托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'mimicry.' Mimicry occurs when one species evolves to resemble another species, often for protection. There are two main types: defensive mimicry and aggressive mimicry. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has evolved to look like the venomous coral snake, with similar red, yellow, and black banding. This resemblance deters predators, who avoid the coral snake due to its deadly bite. This is defensive mimicry—a harmless species gains protection by imitating a dangerous one. On the other hand, there's the anglerfish. This deep-sea predator uses aggressive mimicry. It has a lure that looks like a small worm or fish, which it dangles in front of its mouth. When an unsuspecting prey comes close to investigate the 'food,' the anglerfish snaps it up. So, in aggressive mimicry, the predator mimics something attractive to lure prey. Both examples show how mimicry serves as a survival strategy, but in opposite ways—one to avoid being eaten, the other to eat.