Flying fish are a family of more than 40 species that can grow to about 18 inches long. But the true world record, we’re told, is a South African frog of unknown heritage that jumped more than 33 feet in one leap. The world champion is Rosie the Ribeter, an American bullfrog, that jumped a total of 21 feet, 5.75 inches in a combined three-leap event in 1986. A competition by the same name goes on to this day. Mark Twain wrote a famous story about one such leapers- The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. The site was used for over 600 years, demonstrating the sustainability of traditional, communal hunting techniques.īut let’s talk about leapers that don’t rely on an assist from humans. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in southwestern Alberta is an UNESCO World Heritage Site devoted to the aboriginal practice conducted there. Native peoples living on the plains would herd bison to the edge of a cliff and then drive them over the edge, collecting the dead animals from the base of the cliff. Humans have also engaged in similar behavior to outwit the game animals they used for food, clothing and tools, specifically the American bison. Bad behavior by humans, but not by lemmings. That myth comes from an old nature film in which the film crew actually pushed lemmings off a cliff for the dramatic effect. But, they don’t launch themselves off cliffs in apparent mass suicides. They are good swimmers, and they don’t let obstacles get in the way. In response, large groups migrate together in search of a new home. Consequently, every few years their populations grow too large for their current habitat. Lemmings are rodents with enormous powers of reproduction. Let’s start with the obvious, lemmings leaping off cliffs. ![]() ![]() It is leap-day, and what better time to celebrate the incredible feats of leaping that some of our natural friends perform.
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