Species
Flea
Insects
Citation Formats
General Reference
APA Style
BibTeX
Flea is the common name for the order Siphonaptera, which includes about 2,500 species of small, flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Typically about three millimeters long, fleas have flattened bodies and powerful hind legs adapted for jumping rather than flying, allowing them to leap roughly 50 times their own body length to move between hosts. Their mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and ingesting blood, which is their primary food source.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.