托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'mimicry,' where one species evolves to resemble another for survival. There are two main types: Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a dangerous one to avoid predators, and Müllerian mimicry, where two harmful species evolve to look alike, reinforcing the warning signal. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has red, black, and yellow bands, similar to the venomous coral snake. Predators that have learned to avoid coral snakes also avoid milk snakes, even though milk snakes are not dangerous. This is a classic case of Batesian mimicry. Second, think about various species of stinging bees and wasps. Many of them share similar black-and-yellow stripes. This shared appearance helps predators learn once and then avoid all of them, which is beneficial for all the species involved. This is Müllerian mimicry. So, the main point is that mimicry can evolve in different ways, but in all cases, it enhances survival.