July 2, 2026, 2:55 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
How fast can a spider actually run? Surprisingly fast, as a new study shows: The Jungle Huntsman Spider reached nearly 13 kilometers per hour–leaving all other studied spiders behind. For the largest study of its kind to date, researchers compared the running speed of 258 spider species and analyzed which factors influence speed.
Nearly 13 Kilometers per Hour on Eight Legs
The approximately three-gram Heteropoda jugulans reached a top speed of 3.59 meters per second in the study. This Australian species of giant crab spiders is known in English as the “Australian Jungle Huntsman Spider.” At nearly 13 kilometers per hour, it outpaced all other 258 spider species studied. This finding comes from a research group at Imperial College London and the University of Greifswald, led by first author Shreyas Kuchibhotla.
In media reports, Heteropoda jugulans has already been dubbed the “fastest spider in the world.” However, the study itself does not explicitly make this claim. It documents instead that the species achieved the highest running speed in the dataset examined.
Could It Outrun a Jogger?
At least for the first few meters, probably yes. With a top speed of nearly 13 kilometers per hour, the Australian Jungle Huntsman would be faster than many people during a casual jog. However, the researchers only examined the animals’ maximum speed–not how long they can maintain this pace. Therefore, it remains unclear who would win a longer race.
The Largest Spider Speed Study to Date
For their study, researchers from the University of Greifswald and Imperial College London compiled the most comprehensive dataset on spider running speed to date. Data from 258 species from 64 of the 139 currently known spider families were included in the analysis. Of these, the scientists examined 236 specimens from 162 species themselves. These measurements were supplemented by previously published data from 96 other species.
The animals came from the UK, Australia, North America, and Southern Europe, as well as partially from terrariums. Before each trial, the spiders were weighed and then allowed to run over graph paper. High-speed cameras recorded their movements.
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Size Helps–But Long Legs Make the Difference
Contrary to what many might think, larger spiders, according to the study, generally run faster than smaller ones. But body size alone does not explain the differences. The most significant difference was in leg length: Spiders with relatively long legs ran significantly faster than similarly sized relatives. Whether the legs were particularly slender, however, played little role.
Lifestyle also influenced speed. Actively hunting spiders ran faster on average than species that ambush prey or build webs. However, this correlation was weaker than the influence of leg length and evolutionary history.
Speed Is Also a Matter of Evolution
The study shows that speed does not depend solely on anatomy. Evolutionary history also plays a crucial role. Particularly high, size-adjusted running performances developed within the evolutionarily younger group of true spiders (Araneomorphae). Overall, body size, leg proportions, lifestyle, and common ancestry determine how fast a spider can run.
Even though the Jungle Huntsman Spider is remarkably fast, a race with humans is not on its agenda. They need their speed primarily for survival–not to make joggers break a sweat.