c/australia · by Quokka@quokk.au · 44d

Australia's huntsman fastest spider recorded in new study

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2026-07-10/huntsman-speed-study-science-fastest/106900894

In short:

Australia's brown huntsman spiders are the fastest, according to a study, yet to be peer-reviewed, of 258 species.

According to the study, huntsman spiders can move at 3.59 metres per second.

What's next?

More research is needed to confirm if there are other, faster species out there that have not been investigated.

27 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

fizzle@quokk.au · 5 pts · 44d

I think the "3.59 metres per second" statistic is very misleading.

The farthest I've ever seen one run is about 40cm, and I doubt they can sustain any kind of speed over any greater distance.

Mind you, that 40cm was across a ceiling, and not moving away from me.

Sunshine@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 44d

Indonesia “I’m glad the Wallace Line kept us safe from this monster!”

sorter_plainview@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 44d (1 reply)

It is misleading.

How speed is measured:

Spiders were placed in a box with grid paper at the bottom, and a high-speed camera recording from above.

Comment from author:

He noted that while 3.59 metres per second was the absolute top speed, about as fast as a human jogging, it was only for "a fraction of a second".

"What we call maximum speed, is measured over very short periods of time," he said.

Quokka@quokk.au · 5 pts · 44d

It’s not misleading at all, a cheetah can only run a relatively small distance at top speed yet no one would claim it’s not the fastest runner just because a human can run further.

ace_garp@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 43d

3.59 m/s = 12.9 kmph = 8 mph

To confirm, when you see them move at this speed, and you are a metre away, it will get all of your attention.