托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology: animal camouflage. Now, camouflage isn't just about blending in with the background—it can also involve tricking predators or prey by looking like something else entirely. This is called 'mimicry.' There are two main types: protective mimicry and aggressive mimicry. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless milk snake. It has bright red, yellow, and black bands, which closely resemble the venomous coral snake. Predators that have learned to avoid the coral snake also avoid the milk snake, giving it protection. This is protective mimicry. On the other hand, some creatures use mimicry to attract prey. Take the anglerfish, which lives in the deep, dark ocean. It has a fleshy growth on its head that glows and wiggles like a small worm. Smaller fish, thinking it's a meal, swim closer—and then the anglerfish snaps them up. This is aggressive mimicry. So, mimicry—whether for protection or for hunting—is a powerful survival tool.