托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to discuss a fascinating concept in biology called 'mimicry,' specifically when a harmless species evolves to look like a dangerous one to avoid predators. This is known as Batesian mimicry. The key point is that mimicry isn't just about looking similar; it's about survival through deception. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the scarlet king snake. It has bright red, yellow, and black bands, very similar to the deadly coral snake. Predators avoid the coral snake because its venom is lethal, so they also avoid the king snake, even though it's harmless. Second, think about the hoverfly. It has black and yellow stripes, resembling a wasp. Wasps can sting, so birds and other insects steer clear of hoverflies, which actually have no stinger. In both cases, the mimic gains protection without having the actual defense mechanism. This illustrates how natural selection favors those that look dangerous, even if they aren't.