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 or survival. There are two main types: Batesian mimicry and Müllerian mimicry. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has bright red, yellow, and black bands, which closely resemble the venomous coral snake. Predators avoid the milk snake because they mistake it for the dangerous coral snake. This is Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a harmful one. Second, think about the monarch butterfly and the viceroy butterfly. Monarchs are toxic to birds because they feed on milkweed. Viceroys, which are also distasteful, have evolved to look very similar to monarchs. Since both are unpleasant, predators learn to avoid both after tasting one. This is Müllerian mimicry, where two harmful species share similar warning signals, benefiting both by reducing the number of attacks each individual faces.