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. 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 fin that sticks out from its head, like a fishing rod, with a glowing lure at the tip. Smaller fish are attracted to the light, thinking it's a tasty snack. When they get close, the anglerfish snaps them up. The light is a form of camouflage because it disguises the predator as something harmless or attractive. Second, consider the orchid mantis. It has a body that looks exactly like a pink or white orchid flower. It sits on a plant, and insects like bees and butterflies come to pollinate what they think is a flower. As soon as they land, the mantis grabs them. So in both cases, the animals use deceptive appearances to lure prey, rather than to hide from enemies.