托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating survival strategy in the animal kingdom: mimicry. Specifically, I want to focus on a type called aggressive mimicry, where a predator uses mimicry to lure its prey. Unlike defensive mimicry, where an animal disguises itself to avoid being eaten, aggressive mimicry is about attack. The key point is that these predators often imitate something that is attractive or harmless to their prey, tricking them into coming closer. Let me give you two classic examples. First, the anglerfish. This deep-sea creature has a fleshy growth on its head that glows and wiggles like a small fish. Smaller fish, attracted to what they think is a meal, swim right up to it, and the anglerfish snaps them up. Second, the bolas spider. This spider produces a sticky ball on a silk thread and swings it. It also releases a chemical that mimics the sex pheromone of female moths. Male moths, drawn by the scent, fly toward the spider, and the spider catches them with its sticky 'bola'. So, in both cases, the predator exploits the prey's natural instincts—hunger or mating—to its advantage.