{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "flea",
  "name": "Flea",
  "scientificName": "Siphonaptera",
  "category": "Insect",
  "summary": "Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of mammals and birds, feeding on their blood. They are renowned for their jumping ability, able to leap many times their own body length thanks to powerful hind legs and a spring-like protein. Fleas can be a nuisance to pets and people and can transmit disease, and they are found nearly worldwide.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Arthropoda",
    "class": "Insecta",
    "order": "Siphonaptera",
    "family": null,
    "genus": null
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 5e-7,
    "lengthM": 0.0025,
    "topSpeedKmh": 5,
    "lifespanYears": 1
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Order Siphonaptera"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Hematophagous (blood of mammals and birds)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "On the bodies of host animals worldwide"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Several weeks to a few months"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "1.5–3 mm (about 0.1 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Jump",
      "value": "Up to many times its body length"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Varies by species"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "On the bodies of mammals and birds worldwide; wingless parasites famous for their jumping.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "South America",
      "Oceania"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Siphonaptera.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Siphonaptera&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Flea.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/flea/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/flea/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}