托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior known as 'biological mimicry' — specifically, how some animals use mimicry not just for defense, but for offense. While most people think of mimicry as a way to avoid predators, some species mimic other organisms to attract prey. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the anglerfish. It lives in the deep, dark ocean where food is scarce. It has a special fin that extends from its head like a fishing rod, with a glowing tip that mimics a small, tasty fish. Smaller fish are attracted to the light, thinking it's a meal, but when they get close, the anglerfish snaps them up. Second, think of the bolas spider. This spider doesn't spin a typical web. Instead, it releases a single sticky silk line with a glob of glue at the end. The glob emits a chemical that mimics the sex pheromone of a female moth. Male moths, drawn by the scent, fly toward the glob, and the spider swings its line to catch them. So, in both cases, mimicry is used as a hunting tool.