托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'biological mimicry.' Biological mimicry occurs when one species evolves to resemble another species, often to gain a survival advantage. The main point I want to emphasize is that mimicry can serve two very different purposes: defense against predators and deception for hunting. Let me give you two clear examples. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has evolved to look very similar to the venomous coral snake, with the same red, yellow, and black banding. This resemblance scares away potential predators, even though the milk snake is completely harmless. This is an example of defensive mimicry. Second, think of the anglerfish. It has a special appendage that glows and wiggles, resembling a small worm. When a smaller fish tries to eat the 'worm,' the anglerfish quickly snaps it up. Here, mimicry is used to lure prey, which is deceptive mimicry for hunting. So, in essence, the same phenomenon—mimicry—can be a shield or a weapon, depending on the species' needs.