10 Science Myths You Probably Still Believe

3. Elephants Are The Only Mammal That Can't Jump

To be fair, it is true that elephants can't jump. Despite their bulk, elephants have pretty weak lower leg and ankle structures that would be incapable of lifting four tonnes of elephant any higher than they need to.

It is not true, however, that elephants are the only mammal that can't jump. Sloths, hippos, rhinos and giraffes all fall into the category of non-jumping mammals, mostly because they simply don't need to (although hippos, rhinos and giraffes can lift all four feet off the ground when they run).

If we widen our search for non-jumpers to the animal kingdom in general (as the myth sometimes implies that elephants are the only animals that can't jump) then there are plenty to choose from. Have you ever, for example, seen an earthworm jump?