托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'biological mimicry.' Specifically, I want to focus on a type called 'aggressive mimicry,' where a predator or parasite uses mimicry to attract or deceive its prey. The key point is that aggressive mimicry is a highly specialized survival strategy that enhances an organism's ability to obtain food. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the anglerfish, which lives in the deep, dark ocean. It has a fleshy growth on its head that glows and wiggles, resembling a small fish or worm. When a smaller fish is attracted to this apparent prey, the anglerfish quickly snaps it up. Second, think of the orchid mantis. This insect resembles a pink or white orchid flower. It sits on flowers and waits for pollinators like bees or butterflies to come near, thinking it's a real flower for nectar. When they get close, the mantis strikes and captures them. So in both cases, the predator uses deceptive appearance to lure prey directly to it, increasing its hunting success.