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: protective mimicry and aggressive mimicry. Let's explore both with examples. First, protective mimicry. The viceroy butterfly is a great example. It looks almost identical to the monarch butterfly, which is toxic to predators. Because birds have learned to avoid monarchs, they also avoid viceroys, even though viceroys are actually harmless. This mimicry helps protect the viceroy from being eaten. Second, aggressive mimicry. The anglerfish is a deep-sea creature that has a glowing lure on its head that looks like a small fish. When prey is attracted to the light, the anglerfish quickly snaps it up. So, in both cases, mimicry serves a critical function—either to avoid becoming prey or to become a more effective predator.