The movement of ants is often observed but rarely appreciated for its complex biomechanics and the surprising variability in speed across different species. The speed of an ant is a highly specialized trait that reflects its ecological niche and environment. The fastest ants have developed extraordinary adaptations to reach velocities that challenge our perception of insect locomotion.
Measuring Ant Speed
For most common foraging ants, their absolute speed is relatively slow, generally falling within a range of one to ten centimeters per second. For instance, the walking speed of an Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) averages between 1.85 and 2.46 centimeters per second. Scientists quantify this speed using high-speed video cameras positioned over a calibrated surface to measure the distance covered over time.
A major factor influencing speed is the ambient temperature, as ants are ectotherms whose body temperature fluctuates with the environment. Speed increases exponentially as the temperature rises because muscle kinetics and metabolic rates are accelerated. For some species, a rise of just one degree Celsius can increase walking speed by approximately 0.1 centimeters per second, though this acceleration ceases once the temperature exceeds a species-specific critical maximum.
The World’s Fastest Ant Species
The record holder for the world’s fastest ant is the Saharan Silver Ant, Cataglyphis bombycina, a species whose survival depends entirely on its velocity. This ant lives in the scorching Sahara Desert, venturing out in the midday sun to scavenge the carcasses of other heat-stricken arthropods. The sand temperature during its foraging window can reach 70 degrees Celsius.
To cope with this extreme environment, the ant must complete its foraging run quickly, often limiting its time outside the nest to about ten minutes. This pressure has driven the evolution of a top velocity measured at 855 millimeters per second (85.5 cm/s). This speed allows the ant to avoid its own critical thermal maximum, which is around 53.6 degrees Celsius. Another related species, Cataglyphis fortis, reaches speeds of up to 620 millimeters per second.
Speed Relative to Body Size
To compare the speeds of animals with different sizes, scientists use a metric known as body lengths per second (BL/s). This scaling factor normalizes speed to an animal’s size, providing a measure of its athletic capacity. The Saharan Silver Ant achieves a relative speed of 108 times its own body length every second.
This performance places the ant among the fastest creatures on Earth, relative to its size, ranking third overall. For comparison, the fastest land mammal, the cheetah, manages only about 16 body lengths per second at full sprint. If a six-foot-tall human could run at a proportional speed of 108 BL/s, they would be moving at approximately 711 kilometers per hour.
The Mechanics of Ant Locomotion
Ants typically use an efficient, six-legged walking pattern known as the alternating tripod gait. In this pattern, three legs—the front and back on one side, and the middle leg on the opposite side—are in contact with the ground at all times. This arrangement creates a stable base of support, similar to a tripod, which aids in navigating uneven terrain.
However, when Cataglyphis bombycina reaches its top speeds, this stable gait is abandoned for a full gallop. At velocities above 300 millimeters per second, the ant lifts all six of its feet off the ground to achieve maximum velocity. During this sprint, the ant takes 47 strides per second, with each foot making contact with the scorching sand for only about seven milliseconds.