托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'sensory adaptation'. This is the process by which animals adjust their sensory systems to better suit their environment or specific survival needs. One classic example is the star-nosed mole. This small mammal lives in dark, muddy tunnels where vision is useless. Instead, it has developed an extraordinary sense of touch through its star-shaped nose, which has about 22 fleshy tentacles. These tentacles are packed with nerve endings, allowing the mole to detect prey in milliseconds by touching the ground. This adaptation is so effective that it's the fastest known forager among mammals. A second example is the African elephant. Elephants live in open savannas where visual cues can be limited by distance or vegetation. To communicate over long distances, they use low-frequency sounds, called infrasound, which can travel several kilometers. They also have highly sensitive trunks and feet that can pick up vibrations through the ground. This sensory shift from sight to sound and vibration helps them stay connected with their herd and detect danger. So, in both cases, we see that sensory adaptation is not about having 'better' senses overall, but about developing specialized senses that match the demands of their particular habitats.