The –est Life

California mite becomes fastest land animal

Arachnid outruns cheetah in terms of body lengths per second

SPEEDY LEGS The California mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis can outpace Usain Bolt and even a cheetah in terms of body lengths per second.

Courtesy of J.C. Wright 

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

A sesame seed–sized mite from California can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, and it is definitely not more powerful than a locomotive.