How Fast Is Trap-Jaw Ant Mandibles?

Trap-jaw ants snap their mandibles shut at 64 m/s, the fastest body part movement in any animal — 2,300 body lengths per second, finishing in 0.13 milliseconds. They use this snap to launch themselves backwards out of danger, leaping their own body length in an instant.

Trap-jaw ants snap their jaws so fast they launch themselves backwards into the air — escaping predators with the same motion they bite with.

• 2,300 body lengths per second
• Launches them backwards out of danger