托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'mimicry.' Mimicry is when one species evolves to look or behave like another species, often to gain a survival advantage. There are two main types of mimicry: Batesian and Müllerian. Let me give you two examples to clarify. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has evolved to have the same red, yellow, and black stripes as the venomous coral snake. Predators, having learned to avoid the coral snake, also avoid the milk snake. This is Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species mimics a dangerous one. Second, think of two different species of stinging wasps, the yellow jacket and the paper wasp. Both are actually dangerous and share a similar black-and-yellow warning pattern. By looking alike, they reinforce the lesson for predators: if you see these colors, you'll get stung. This is Müllerian mimicry, where dangerous species benefit from a shared warning signal. So, in both cases, mimicry helps species survive, but the mechanism and the species involved differ.