One of your professors says that fleas jump so high because they have specially adapted leg structures and muscles.But your other professor says that fleas jump high because evolution selected for individuals with genes that helped them avoid being damaged by the scratching behavior of their host.So -- why do fleas jump high?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The proximate cause refers to the immediate physiological or mechanical reasons for a trait, which in this case is the fleas' specially adapted leg structures and muscles. The ultimate cause refers to the evolutionary reasons for a trait, which is the selection for genes that help fleas avoid damage from host scratching.

One of Your Professors Says That Fleas Jump So High