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 hunting. There are two main types: defensive mimicry and aggressive mimicry. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the viceroy butterfly. It looks almost identical to the monarch butterfly, which is toxic to birds. Because birds have learned to avoid monarchs, they also avoid viceroys, even though viceroys are actually harmless. This is defensive mimicry—the viceroy gains protection by imitating a dangerous species. Second, think of the anglerfish. It has a fleshy, glowing appendage that dangles in front of its mouth. Smaller fish are attracted to the glowing lure, mistaking it for prey. When they get close, the anglerfish snaps them up. This is aggressive mimicry—the predator uses imitation to lure its prey. So, mimicry is a powerful survival strategy, either to avoid being eaten or to catch food.