托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating survival strategy used by some animals called 'autotomy' – the voluntary shedding of a body part to escape predators. The main point is that while this seems costly, it's actually an effective trade-off for immediate survival. Let me give you two examples. First, the green anole lizard. When a predator grabs its tail, the lizard contracts special muscles to snap it off. The detached tail wiggles vigorously for about a minute, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes. Later, it regrows a simpler tail, but it doesn't have bones – just cartilage. So it loses some mobility, but it lives to reproduce. Second, consider the sea cucumber. When threatened by a fish or crab, it can eject its internal organs through its anus. The sticky, toxic organs entangle and repel the attacker. The sea cucumber then hides and regenerates its organs within a few weeks. This is a high cost, because it temporarily loses its ability to digest food, but again, survival is prioritized. So, autotomy is a clear example of how animals sacrifice non-essential parts to ensure their long-term survival.