The Heteropoda jugulans huntsman spider is the fastest spider.
A new study has found that the fastest arachnid is the huntsman spider Heteropoda jugulans, which can reach speeds of up to 3.59 m/s. The key factor behind its impressive speed turned out to be the length of its legs.
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A study dedicated to the comparative analysis of arachnids has revealed which evolutionary and biomechanical factors influence the movement speed of different species. During the research, scientists identified the species with the highest speed among arachnids.
Previously, the Moroccan spider Cebrennus rechenbergi was considered the fastest. When threatened, it uses an unusual mode of movement—a series of somersaults resembling acrobatic flips—reaching speeds of up to 1.7 meters per second. However, this method is effective only on sandy slopes and does not reflect the spider’s maximum speed during regular running.
An international team of specialists conducted a large-scale study that included data on 258 species from 64 families. The researchers analyzed the relationship between maximum speed, body size, leg length, and the evolutionary history of spiders. For the experiments, paper tracks with a coordinate grid were used, and speed was measured after stimulating movement with a soft brush or a stream of air if the spiders refused to move on their own.
The highest speed among the studied species was demonstrated by the huntsman spider Heteropoda jugulans from the tropical forests of Queensland (Eastern Australia). Weighing about three grams, this species reached speeds of up to 3.59 meters per second, comparable to a light jog by a human. This is the highest recorded running speed among known arachnids.
The main factor influencing speed turned out to be leg length: spiders with longer limbs can take wider strides and cover more distance in the same amount of time. Leg thickness and body posture were found to be less significant. However, even among spiders of the same size, speed can vary due to evolutionary adaptations. Some groups have adapted to active hunting and rapid movement, while others remain slow ambush predators for whom high speed is not essential.
The study showed that movement speed is partly determined by a species’ evolutionary origin. The scientific paper was published on the biology preprint server bioRxiv.org.