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Extremely elastic muscles, spring-like leg mechanisms and sticky feet are among the biological advantages that enable these 12 record-jumping species to leap up to 100 times their own body length. From tiny spiders to elegant impalas and even crustaceans, each of these agile animals is impressively athletic.
1. Rabbit
Among the best-known animal leapers, rabbits can leap many times their body length, though the extent of that leaping varies depending on the breed. Domestic rabbits are even trained to leap over obstacles in rabbit show jumping competitions all over the world.
2. Frog
Frogs have unusually stretchy muscles that enable them to jump more than ten times the length of their own bodies. Scientist have recorded them on high-speed cameras and then slowed down the footage to examine exactly how they can pull off jumping as much as seven feet. Before the frogs jump, they stretch most of their hindlimb muscles, and increase their length, which enables them to produce more force.
3. Mountain Goat
Mountain goats are sure-footed animals that spend their days jumping from cliff to cliff. They have cloven hooves with two toes spread to improve their balance as they pick their way up and down the mountainside. They are able to jump nearly 12 feet in a single bound.
4. Dolphin
These aquatic mammals jump up to 20 feet above the surface of the water. Dolphins do this to see what is around them. They look for predators or scout out their next meal. They could also just be saying hello to their fellow dolphin pals and communicating their location.
5. Grasshopper
Grasshoppers can jump 20 times their own body length. Imagine a person who can jump as long as a basketball court.
6. Froghopper
Froghoppers can jump 70 times their own body height. They’re the 2nd highest jumper among animals compared to body size. However, froghoppers generate the most force per body weight of any animal when jumping – more than 400 times their body weight. They initially accelerate at 4,000 metres per second per second and in a millisecond reach a take-off velocity of four metres per second.
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