The brown huntsman timed as the fastest spider at a top speed of 3.59 m/s – video
Guardian AU
•Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:00:55 GMT
📰 What Happened
Brown huntsman spiders (Heteropoda jugulans) have been clocked at a top speed of 3.59 metres per second (13 km/h or 8 mph), making them the fastest spiders ever measured. The research, supervised by Dr. Christofer Clemente at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was included in a new analysis of more than 250 spider species by scientists in the UK and Germany.
🔍 The Backstory
The previous record-holder was the Moroccan flic-flac spider, which reaches only 1.7 m/s — though that spider's movement involves a tumbling downhill motion rather than conventional running. The 2021 original research by Clemente's team aimed to understand the unique hydraulic leg extension mechanism spiders use to move. Huntsman spiders are already well-known in Australia for their large size and unnerving speed.
🎯 Why It Matters
The finding provides new insights into arachnid biomechanics and the limits of spider locomotion. It also confirms Australia's reputation for extreme wildlife, with yet another native species claiming a world record.
Brown huntsman spiders (Heteropoda jugulans) have been clocked at a top speed of 3.59 metres per second (13 km/h or 8 mph), making them the fastest spiders ever measured. The research, supervised by Dr. Christofer Clemente at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, was included in a new analysis of more than 250 spider species by scientists in the UK and Germany.
The previous record-holder was the Moroccan flic-flac spider, which reaches only 1.7 m/s — though that spider's movement involves a tumbling downhill motion rather than conventional running. The 2021 original research by Clemente's team aimed to understand the unique hydraulic leg extension mechanism spiders use to move. Huntsman spiders are already well-known in Australia for their large size and unnerving speed.
The finding provides new insights into arachnid biomechanics and the limits of spider locomotion. It also confirms Australia's reputation for extreme wildlife, with yet another native species claiming a world record.