The male dark fishing spider or Dolomedes tenebrosus died at the height of passion, according to a recent study published by the Royal Society Publishing, accessible online through its Biology Letter's Web site.

U.S. arachnids have been collected for the study where the researchers found out that "after the male stuffed his sperm into the female's body using his antennalike pedipalp, he immediately went limp."

It has been noted, too, that even if its female mate didn't attack, it still succumbed to death during the sexual act.

The spiders involved in the study also appeared to develop genital disfiguration after making love with their partners. Although the pedipalp, which has a reproductive function in the spider's anatomy, is normally enlarged during sperm transfer, it remained expanded and apparently useless in the case of the anarchids in question following the deed.

Based on the findings, the male dark fishing spider may succumb to death before it even realises it full reproductive potential.

Their findings brought the researchers to a conclusion about obligate male death among the dark fishing spider specie. No other factors, particularly an action directed to them by their partners, contributed to their deaths.

The sexual act brings pleasure to humans who can still enjoy its benefits after the deed. But apparently, the same cannot be said for the arachnids.

Lovemaking comes at a high cost for these spiders.

They pay for it with their lives.