Saharan Silver Ant

This is the fastest Ant in the world. It lives in the Sahara desert (obviously). It runs 855 millimeters in one second. It covers the 108 times the distance on its own length in one second. If it was the size of an average human, it would have covered about 180 meters per second. When this fascinating ant runs, it keeps its front two feet above the ground so that it does not touch the sand. 

This is the fastest Ant in the world. It lives in the Sahara desert (obviously). It runs 2.8 Ft in one second and this is probably because of the desert environment where the temperatures reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It covers 108 times the distance on its own length in one second. If it was the size of an average human, it would have covered about 180 meters per second. When this fascinating ant runs, it keeps its front two feet above the ground so that it does not touch the sand. 

These ants get prey who have suffered from the heat of the Sahara. But to get their prey, they must face the scorching sand and sun but that actually is no problem for them.  These ants have adapted in such a way that they have hair that glints silver in the sunlight. This hair helps the ant to face the heat. This hair can cause a 5-degree drop in their body temperature if needed. The hair on the ant’s body is actually 3 sided and not round. This special hair helps reflects more than 50% of the light that falls on it. 

But what about the hot sand. The hair is not the only thing that keeps this ant cool, one more characteristic of the ant to keep the ant cool is its legs. Its legs are long compared to the ant’s body. When they scurry, they generate wind which cools their body through convection. The hot layer of air surrounding the insect rises because it’s less dense than cooler air.