How many legs does an ant have?

An ant has 6 legs. Like other insects, an ant’s six jointed legs are attached to the thorax, the middle section of its three-part body.

An ant’s body is divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen, although entomologists often use the terms mesosoma and metasoma for parts of the body behind the head. The legs are arranged as three pairs, with one pair arising from each thoracic segment.

The legs are specialized for more than walking. Ants use them to run, climb, carry objects, groom themselves, and navigate uneven ground. Their claws and adhesive structures help many species move across surfaces that appear nearly vertical to humans.

A common mistake is to count an ant’s antennae as legs. Ants have two antennae attached to the head, but antennae are sensory organs used to detect smells, touch, vibrations, and chemical signals. Spiders are different: they are arachnids, not insects, and have eight legs. Millipedes and centipedes also belong to other arthropod groups and can have many more.