托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about how animals use camouflage not just to hide from predators, but also to hunt. This is called 'aggressive mimicry.' The main point is that some predators have evolved to resemble harmless objects or other species, allowing them to get close to their prey without being noticed. Let me give you two examples. First, the anglerfish. It lives in the deep, dark ocean where there's little light. It has a special lure that dangles in front of its mouth, which glows due to bioluminescence. Smaller fish, attracted by the light, swim toward it thinking it's a tasty snack. As soon as they get close, the anglerfish snaps them up. Second, consider the orchid mantis. This insect has a body that looks exactly like a pink or white orchid flower. It sits on a plant, and when a bee or butterfly comes to pollinate the 'flower,' the mantis strikes quickly, capturing the unsuspecting pollinator. In both cases, the predators use their appearance to trick prey into coming near, making hunting much easier.