托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating survival strategy used by some animals called 'autotomy.' Autotomy is the ability of an animal to voluntarily shed or detach a body part, usually to escape a predator. The key point is that this is not a random injury—it's a deliberate and often life-saving adaptation. Let me give you two examples. First, the green anole lizard. When a predator grabs its tail, the lizard can snap off its own tail at a special fracture point. The tail keeps wiggling on the ground, distracting the predator, while the lizard escapes. The tail eventually regrows, though it may be a bit shorter and less colorful. Second, consider the sea cucumber. This marine animal, when threatened, can expel part of its internal organs—like its respiratory tree—through its anus. These sticky, toxic threads entangle the predator, giving the sea cucumber time to crawl away. The lost organs can regenerate within a few weeks. So, autotomy is a sacrifice that serves a critical purpose: survival.