The Australian jungle huntsman spider (Heteropoda jugulans) officially holds the title for the fastest-running spider ever recorded. In a global study, this Queensland native clocked a staggering sprint speed of 3.59 metres per second (about 8 miles per hour or 13 km/h).
Here are a few quick, fascinating highlights from the study:
▫️Leg Anatomy Defies Assumptions: While many assume slim legs make for faster runners, researchers found that heavier arachnids with long, sturdy legs are the true sprinters.
▫️The Competition: This completely shatters the previous record held by the Moroccan "flic-flac" spider, which could only reach about 1.7 metres per second—and only while tumbling or rolling downhill.
▫️Testing Scope: To uncover these results, scientists analyzed the sprinting prowess of 236 individual specimens across 162 different species to see how size and leg length affect speed.
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