How Fast Are Spiders?
WouterSpiders are very fast creatures. They are able to run up to two feet per second. That is much faster than humans. Some spiders can even accelerate to a hundred miles per hour.
The fastest spiders can spin at up to 40% faster than normal. They also can strike their prey with speeds up to 3,000 degrees per second. These spiders are part of the family Selenopidae.
During hunting, these spiders are often seen walking with their jaws open. This is to let them sense the direction of their prey. As they move, they pull their legs closer to their body. Eventually, the speed is so high that they can capture their prey in one-eighth of a second.
In addition to their fast moving bodies, spiders have special hairs that contain microscopic feet. When these hairs touch the surface of the ground, they provide them with a grip. They are also able to respond quickly to vibrations.
A study in the Journal of Experimental Biology revealed surprising insights about how spiders move. Researchers observed the speed of Texas brown tarantulas at different temperatures. It was found that the species at high temperature could run 2.5 times faster than those at low temperature. Interestingly, the difference was caused by the speed of their stride.
Researchers then tried to figure out why spiders at high temperatures were so quick. It turned out that the spiders at high temperature had looser leg joints. Those at low temperatures had tighter leg joints.
