Tassie spiders make thoughtful lovers

Sex and spiders are two things that can make people scream - and as it turns out amorous arachnids have it pretty good in the bedroom.

For years scientists have believed male spiders have no feeling in their palpal - or reproductive - organ, which is found inside the two appendages on their head that look like tiny legs and are used to transfer sperm.

But a study of Tasmanian cave spiders by German and American researchers has found the male of the species actually has nerves in its "penis", which could not be examined until now.

This allows the spider to, in layman's terms, think with its junk.

The researchers believe this ability could secure a male's chance of getting a female pregnant by figuring out what she likes during sex and doing it.

It is also speculated that two glands discovered in the spider's penis improve the likelihood of having sex with the same spider again.

But it's not all bedroom bliss - spiders don't experience pleasure in the same way as humans.