Descripção de algumas especies novas ou pouco conhecidas de crustaceos e arachnidios de Portugal e possessões portuguezas do ultramar

A careful survey of Portugal’s lesser‑known crustaceans and arachnids unfolds in this early‑20th‑century naturalist’s notebook. Drawing on recent collections from the mainland, the Azores, Madeira and West‑African outposts, the author records each specimen with precise measurements, detailed illustrations and comparisons to previously described relatives. The introductory note explains the effort to publish quickly, even while correcting numerous typographical slips that slipped through the original prints.

Among the highlights is a small crab from Setúbal Bay, whose diamond‑shaped carapace bears four pronounced ridges and unusually slender, compressed limbs—a set of features that clearly set it apart from its European cousins. A likewise intriguing spider from the coastal forests of Cabinda is described with an emphasis on its distinctive eye arrangement and leg spination, suggesting it may belong to an entirely new genus. These early findings showcase the richness of Portugal’s colonial fauna and the importance of documenting it before it fades from memory.

The work reads like a field journal, balancing scientific rigor with a palpable sense of discovery. Its straightforward Latin‑styled taxonomy, paired with hand‑drawn plates, provides modern readers a window into the methods and enthusiasm of a bygone era of natural history.