Jumping animals are some of the most interesting and unique animals in the world. Whether they’re able to jump because of an evolutionary adaptation or due to an accident of nature, these unique creatures all have one thing in common: extreme jumping abilities that put many people to shame! In this article, we will examine 10 of the best jumping animals in the world and discuss what makes them so impressive.
1) Ants
Ants can jump as far as 19 times their own length—more than 3 feet (1 meter). They use a fling and rebound technique that allows them to leap off surfaces, like a trampoline. Since they are so small, though, ants need to accelerate quickly to get airborne, which accounts for their impressive jumps. Another advantage of their size is that it doesn’t take much effort for them to launch themselves through air.
2) Kangaroos
Kangaroos have a unique way of moving that distinguishes them from all other hoofed mammals. Their legs are twice as long as their arms, which enables them to leap. A kangaroo’s long feet move through tri-lateral movements rather than up and down like that of other animals.
3) Frogs
Frogs, like toads, are amphibians—an order of vertebrates that means they’re cold-blooded. These little guys can easily jump up to 30 times their own body length. That’s about a seven foot (two meter) jump for an average sized frog!
4) Snakes
When it comes to jumping ability, snakes have a lot of it. In fact, that’s where their name comes from—their scales are called snake scales because they could slither over rocks and other surfaces so easily that it was like they were slithering or snaking along them. Snakes even use these scales to help them see by sending vibrations back through their body to sense nearby objects.
5) Porcupines
Porcupines are known for their nasty quills. These sharp spine-like hairs protect them from predators. When these hairs are pulled, they emit an intensely irritating toxin that will start to make most creatures back off. The porcupine can jump up to 30 feet and if they don’t feel threatened, they can leap up to 6 feet high! Porcupines have been known to attack viciously when cornered or if a predator gets too close.
6) Penguins
The Emperor penguin is one of three species of penguin that live on Antarctica. They are typically taller than average, at about 3 feet, and can weigh up to 60 pounds. Emperor penguins get their name from their black and white coloring, which resembles a traditional emperor’s robe. But it’s not just their clothing that makes them stand out—Emperor penguins are also some of nature’s greatest jumpers.
7) Goats
Goats are very good jumpers. Their light bodies, powerful legs and agility are among their best traits. Usually goats live on rough terrain and can climb steep mountain slopes at high speed. They can also jump extremely high: up to six meters straight into the air! Some other goat facts include horns (both males and females have horns), one stomach (ruminants) which is uncommon for ruminants, cloven hooves which allows them to grip onto almost any surface.
8) Lemurs
The ring-tailed lemur, one of twenty-eight species of lemur, a primate found only on Madagascar, is well known for its leaping abilities. While holding onto a branch with both hands and using their tail as a fifth limb, they can leap up to sixteen feet forward or nine feet high. But it’s not just forward; these creatures can also leap backward and sideways! For something so small (typically weighing around five pounds), that’s pretty impressive.
9) Hedgehogs
They may be small, but hedgehogs have an ability to leap from one surface to another that’s astounding. They use their prickly spines for protection and also as a grappling hook for scaling surfaces.
10) Elephants
Elephants are very good at jumping. Their trunks are a huge advantage since they’re long and allow them to reach for things higher up. What people don’t realize is that elephants also use their ears to help them jump, which you can see when watching them carefully. In fact, an elephant’s ears are so big that it can use them as a sort of parachute while diving into water.
