What is Animal colour?
[[File:Orientalischer Süßlippfisch.jpg|thumb|300px|A brilliantly-colored [[oriental sweetlips]] fish (''Plectorhinchus vittatus'') waits while two boldly-patterned [[Cleaner fish]] pick parasites from its skin. The spotted tail and fin pattern of the Sweetlips signals sexual maturity; the behaviour and pattern of the Cleaner fish signal their availability for cleaning service, rather than as prey]] [[File:Inachis io bottom side.jpg|thumb|230px|Peacock butterfly is a cryptic leaf mimic when its wings are closed]] [[File:Aglais io - geograph.org.uk - 235513.jpg|thumb|230px|Peacock butterfly displays startling [[eye-spot (mimicry)|eye-spots]] when its wings are open; they also distract attacks away from the body. This insect has survived a bird's attack on the eyespot on the right hindwing]] [[File:Catocala.nupta-moth7-30.07.06.jpg|thumb|230px|Red underwing moth is cryptic and disruptively patterned at rest]] [[File:Catocala.nupta-Moth3-30.07.06.jpg|thumb|230px|Red underwing moth's startling underwing flash when disturbed]] [[File:Chapman-Zebra.jpg|thumb|The zebra's bold pattern may momentarily confuse chasing lions: a dazzle defence]] '''Animal color''' (or '''coloration''') is produced by [[light]] reflecting from an animal's surface. The ways animals produce colors include [[pigment]]s, [[chromatophore]]s and other [[structure]]s, and [[bioluminescence]]. Since [[sight]] is usually so important to animals, and is so often used by [[predator]]s as a long-range way to find [[prey]], an animal's color must serve one or more functions. These functions, such as finding prey, or evading capture, or finding a mate, are absolutely essential for life and survival. Therefore, animal color is determined by [[natural selection]] because it affects the [[wikt:survival|survival]] of animals and their [[wikt:offspring|offspring]]. Some of the most obvious functions of color are: # [[Camouflage]]: enabling an animal to remain hidden from view # Signalling to other animals ## [[Warning coloration]]: signalling to other animals