托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'mimicry.' Mimicry is when one species evolves to look or behave like another species, often to gain a survival advantage. There are two main types: Batesian mimicry and Mullerian mimicry. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless scarlet king snake, which has bright red, yellow, and black bands. This snake mimics the venomous coral snake, which has the same color pattern but in different order. Predators that have learned to avoid coral snakes also avoid the king snake, giving it protection. This is Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a dangerous one. Second, think about several species of stinging wasps. They all share the same black and yellow warning colors. Predators quickly learn to avoid anything with those colors, and because multiple species look alike, each individual wasp benefits from the collective warning. This is Mullerian mimicry, where two or more harmful species mimic each other, reinforcing the warning signal. So, in both cases, mimicry helps species survive, but the mechanisms and participants differ.