托福听力

🎧 听力原文

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: So, we've been discussing how animals adapt to their environments. Today, let's consider the mimic octopus, a fascinating creature found in the tropical waters of Southeast Asia. Unlike other octopuses that change color for camouflage, the mimic octopus takes imitation a step further. It can change its body shape, movement, and color to impersonate other marine animals, such as lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish. For example, when threatened by a predator, it may flatten its body and swim in a undulating manner to resemble a venomous sea snake, deterring the predator. This behavior is not just instinctive; researchers believe it involves learning and decision-making, as the octopus selects the appropriate mimicry based on the specific threat. However, this remarkable ability has a cost. Mimicry requires high energy and constant attention. Also, the octopus must leave its safe den to perform these displays, increasing its exposure to predators. So, while mimicry is an effective defense, it's not without risks. This trade-off is a key point in understanding such adaptive behaviors. Now, let's discuss how this compares to other defensive strategies...