托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'mimicry.' Specifically, I want to focus on how some animals use mimicry not just to hide from predators, but also to hunt more effectively. This is called 'aggressive mimicry.' The main point is that aggressive mimicry allows a predator to get close to its prey by disguising itself as something harmless or even attractive to the prey. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the anglerfish. It lives in the deep, dark ocean. It has a special appendage that glows and dangles in front of its mouth. Small fish are attracted to the glowing light, thinking it's a tasty snack. When they swim close to investigate, the anglerfish quickly snaps them up. Second, think about the orchid mantis. This insect looks exactly like a pink orchid flower. It sits on a plant, and when bees or butterflies come to pollinate the 'flower,' the mantis grabs them. In both cases, the predator uses its appearance to trick prey into coming closer, making hunting much easier.