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 hunting. There are two main types: Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a dangerous one, and Müllerian mimicry, where two harmful species evolve to look alike, reinforcing a warning signal. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the scarlet king snake, which is harmless but has bright red, yellow, and black bands similar to the venomous coral snake. Predators learn to avoid the coral snake's pattern, so they also avoid the king snake. That's Batesian mimicry. Second, think of the monarch and viceroy butterflies. Both are toxic to birds, and they share similar orange and black patterns. Birds that have tasted one species quickly learn to avoid both, which benefits both species. That's Müllerian mimicry. So, in essence, mimicry is a survival strategy shaped by natural selection.