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. The key point is that mimicry can be either defensive or aggressive. Defensive mimicry helps an animal avoid predators, while aggressive mimicry helps it catch prey. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the viceroy butterfly. It looks very similar to the monarch butterfly, which is toxic to birds. Because birds have learned to avoid monarchs, they also avoid viceroys, even though viceroys are harmless. This is a classic case of defensive mimicry—the viceroy gains protection by looking like a dangerous species. Second, think of the anglerfish. It has a fleshy growth on its head that looks like a small worm. When smaller fish approach to eat the 'worm', the anglerfish quickly snaps them up. This is aggressive mimicry—the anglerfish uses its appearance to lure prey. So, the main point is that mimicry serves different purposes depending on the species' needs.