Flea
Flea
Invertebrate
The flea is one of the mightiest jumpers alive for its size, springing about a hundred times its body length from a pad of rubber-like protein — beaten only narrowly by the froghopper.
💡 Fun Facts
- A flea can jump about 100 times its own body length.
- For its size it is beaten only just, by the froghopper, which jumps a little further.
- It springs into the air using a pad of stretchy, rubber-like protein called resilin.
Name Story
Ctenocephalides felis
means “the comb-headed one of the cat”
What does its name mean?
- Ctenocephalides — comb-headGreek kteis 'comb' + kephalē 'head'
- felis — of the catLatin feles 'cat'
'Comb-head of the cat' — look closely and a flea really does have rows of stiff, comb-like spines on its head and body, which help it cling to fur. For its size, it is one of the greatest jumpers alive.