Beyond frogs and kangaroos, numerous animals, like sparrows, rabbits, and jumping spiders, use hopping and jumping as primary modes of movement. Their unique locomotion serves purposes from escaping threats to catching prey.
Let’s take a look at 10 animals that hop and jump:
1. Small Birds
When they’re on the ground, most small birds move by hopping. An example of this is the sparrow, which is a common bird found in many parts of the world. Some larger birds such as the kiwi also jump around a lot since they’re flightless birds.
2. Rabbits
Born natural jumpers, rabbits are able to cover great distances with their powerful hind legs. Not only can rabbits jump high vertically and horizontally, but they are also incredibly fast runners.
Wild rabbits have a top speed of up to 45 mph (72 km/h). Also, did you know that when a rabbit is happy, it will do something called a binky leap which is its version of a happy dance? So cute!
3. Hares
Hares are similar to rabbits, but they tend to be larger and have longer legs. Like rabbits, hares are born natural jumpers and can cover great distances quickly. Their jump height of more than 11 feet and max running speed of 45 mph (72 kph) makes them nigh-on impossible to catch!
4. Bharals
The bharal, often called the blue sheep, lives among the steep hills and rocky cliffs of the Himalayas. Grass makes up most of its diet, though it will also browse on leaves, flowers, and fruit when it can find them.
Bharals seldom stray far from cliffs since they use them to flee from predators. Even though they look like sheep, these creatures are quite athletic and can leap vast distances.
5. Frogs
Despite their tiny stature, frogs can hop several times the length of their bodies. Frogs typically jump when they’re running away from predators, moving places, but also when they’re trying to catch prey. It’s already a known fact that frogs can jump really high, but did you know that some species of frogs can jump over 20 times their body length?
6. Jumping Spiders
Though they max out at under an inch in body length, some jumping spiders’ hydraulic limb systems let them jump up to 50 times their body length. Not only does jumping appear to be fun for spiders, but they also use it as a method to catch prey. They may also leap in reaction to sudden threats.
7. Kangaroos
You probably already know that kangaroos are famous for their powerful hind legs, long tails, and ability to hop around. What you may not know is that this amazing creature from The Land Down Under will stand on two legs and run at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour! However, they only leap at a speed of 25 kmph.
8. Crickets
There are numerous species of crickets, but the majority of them can jump up to 3 feet long. This is a method of avoiding predators, similar to how other jumping animals avoid them. If you come too close to a camel cricket, it will actually leap at you! Crickets, on the other hand, are harmless and you’re a greater risk to them than they are to you.
9. Grasshoppers
Just like crickets, grasshoppers have long back legs that they use for jumping. Grasshoppers can spring into the air using their leaping skills, but the majority of them are strong fliers that use their wings to avoid predators. A grasshopper can jump up 30 inches from the ground.
10. Flea
Fleas may be tiny, but few animals can match them for jumping ability. By springing from one host to the next, a flea reaches the blood meals it lives on, and in the process it can also pass diseases between hosts. Researchers think the leap is driven by a small pad of a stretchy protein called resilin, which stores and releases energy much like a spring.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! The top 10 animals that hop and jump. These creatures are all amazing in their own right and showcase the impressive abilities that animals have adapted for survival. Thanks for reading!
Jumping Spiders Image by: Kevincollins123, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
