Which mammal can jump the highest relative to its body size?

The animal that can jump the highest relative to its body size is the flea. Fleas are small, wingless insects that are known for their incredible jumping abilities. They have long, powerful legs that allow them to jump up to 200 times their own body length, which is equivalent to a human jumping the length of a football field.

Fleas are able to jump so high because of the structure of their legs. Their hind legs are long and muscular, with a special protein called resilin that acts like a spring. When a flea jumps, it stores energy in its hind legs by compressing its body and then releases that energy all at once, propelling itself into the air.

While fleas are small and often considered pests, their jumping ability is truly remarkable and has even inspired researchers to study their leg structure for potential use in robotics and prosthetics.