托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating adaptation in the animal kingdom: mimicry. Specifically, I want to focus on how some animals use mimicry not just to avoid predators, but also to gain a survival advantage in their environment. This is called 'aggressive mimicry.' Let me give you two examples. First, consider the anglerfish. It lives in the deep, dark ocean where food is scarce. It has a fleshy growth on its head that glows, looking like a small worm. When a smaller fish approaches to eat the 'worm,' the anglerfish snaps it up. The light acts as a lure, turning a predator into prey. Second, think about the snapping turtle. It has a pink, worm-like appendage on its tongue. When it lies still on the riverbed, it opens its mouth and wiggles this appendage. Fish, thinking it's a tasty worm, swim right in, and the turtle closes its jaws. In both cases, the mimicry is not for defense but for attracting food, making the animal a more efficient hunter.