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Jump of the Oriental Rat Flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Roths.)

Abstract

THE spectacular and bewilderingly rapid jump of the flea has always excited the curiosity and wonder of naturalists. In an attempt to explain the mechanism of the jump we have re-examined the morphology of Xenopsylla cheopis, particularly the exoskeleton and musculature, and have combined this detailed study with a series of high speed cine films.

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ROTHSCHILD, M., SCHLEIN, Y., PARKER, K. et al. Jump of the Oriental Rat Flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Roths.). Nature 239, 45–48 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/239045a0

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