scholarly journals Inventory and characteristics of the small African land snail (SALS) spp in Benin metropolis, Edo State

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 66-76
Author(s):  
G. I. O. Odafe-Shalom

Six (6) species of small African land snails (SALS) were picked from bushes and home gardens in seven (7) locations in Benin metropolis. The SALS were identified by means of a picture chart and examined for their physical characteristics, shell properties, population pattern and relative abundance during season in the locations. Chemical analysis was performed to determine the proximate and mineral compositions of the SALS and to compare these with those of the common GALS, Achatina marginata. Along with the GALS, the SALS found in the metropolis belong mainly to the genus – Lumicolaria. They are rainy season gastropods; their presence became visible in April; population became significant in May; and then increased significantly to reach their peaks in July; and thereafter reduced significantly in August. There were no differentials respecting relative abundance of various species based on location in Benin metropolis. Instead the different locations sampled, fittingly represented replications of measurements and figures rather than differential biodiversity of snail species. The six species of SALS identified were L. flamnae (black and white), L.numidica, (yellow brown), L.martesiana (brown), L.aethiops (brown), L. feline (white), L.aurora (white and black). Morphologically the SALS measured 5.0 – 7.5cm in length, and 2.0 – 2.1cm in diameter. The number of whorls on shell varied from 6 – 9 between the species. There were variabilities in shell colors, sizes and relative standard live weight of the snails. The SALS and GALS showed similarity in physical characteristics and chemical composition, except in size. This means that SALS, like the GALS, also have high potential food value. Studies on the production and utilization of SALS were thus recommended.     Six (6) espèces de petits escargots terrestres africains (le 'SALS') ont été cueillies dans des buissons et des jardins potagers dans sept (7) localités de la métropole du Benin. Les 'SALS' ont été identifiés au moyen d'une carte illustrée et examinés pour leurs caractéristiques physiques, les propriétés de la coquille, la structure de la population et l'abondance relative pendant la saison dans les emplacements. Une analyse chimique a été réalisée pour déterminer les compositions proximales et minérales du 'SALS' et pour les comparer avec celles du 'GALS' commun, Achatinamarginata. Avec les 'GALS', les 'SALS' trouvés dans la métropole appartiennent principalement au genre - Lumicolaria. Ce sont des gastéropodes de saison des pluies; leur présence est devenue visible en avril; la population est devenue importante en mai; puis a augmenté de manière significative pour atteindre leurs sommets en juillet; et par la suite considérablement réduit en août. Il n'y avait pas de différentiels concernant l'abondance relative des diverses espèces en fonction de l'emplacement dans la métropole béninoise. Au lieu de cela, les différents emplacements échantillonnés représentaient de manière appropriée des réplications de mesures et de chiffres plutôt que la biodiversité différentielle des espèces d'escargots. Les six espèces de SALS identifiées étaient L. flamnae (noir et blanc), L.numidica, (jaune brun), L.martesiana (brun), L.aethiops (brun), L. feline (blanc), L.aurora (blanc et noir). Morphologiquement, le SALS mesurait 5.0 à 7.5 cm de longueur et 2.0 à 2.1 cm de diamètre. Le nombre de verticilles sur coquille variait de 6 à 9 entre les espèces. Il y avait des variations dans la couleur de la coquille, la taille et le poids vif standard relatif des escargots. Les 'SALS' et 'GALS' ont montré des similitudes dans les caractéristiques physiques et la composition chimique, sauf en taille. Cela signifie que les 'SALS', comme les 'GALS', ont également une valeur alimentaire potentielle élevée. Des études sur la production et l'utilisation des 'SALS' ont donc été recommandées.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
RAAMAH ROSALES ◽  
EDGARDO LILLO ◽  
STEVE MICHAEL ALCAZAR ◽  
LEA COLITA ◽  
JOED CABALLERO ◽  
...  

Abstract. Rosales R, Lillo E, Alcazar SM, Colita L, Caballero J, Malaki AB. 2020. Species composition, relative abundance, and distribution of land snail species in Mt. Lantoy Key Biodiversity Area, Cebu, Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 5438-5447. This study aimed to establish an inventory of land snails in Mt. Lantoy, Cebu Island, Philippines. A two-person team conducted sampling on eight permanent plots with an elevation range of 182 m-691 m. The study has listed a total of 872 individuals represented by 25 species belonging to 15 genera and nine families. Seven families belong to the air-breathing pulmonate group, Order Stylommatophora: Bradybaenidae, Camaenidae, Trochomorphidae, Achatinidae, Ariophantidae, Helicarionidae, Helicinidae. Two families were under the prosobranch group, Order Caenogastopoda: Cyclophoridae, and Pupinidae. The Cyclophoridae was the richest family with five species, followed by Bradybaenidae, Camaenidae, Helicinidae, having four species. The Trochomorphidae and Helicarionidae have three species. The Pupinidae has two species, while the Achatinidae and Ariophantidae has one species each. There were three (3) endemic and ten (10) new island record species collected and identified with four (4) species that were classified as rare. Rysotta otaheitana Ferussac 1821 was the most abundant, representing 25.22% of the total number of individuals. The Leptoma nitidum ancilis Bartsch 1918 has the widest geographical distribution with a constancy rate of 100%. Widespread species appear to be more abundant, while other species were geographically restricted in few study areas.


2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1804) ◽  
pp. 20143063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuki Kimura ◽  
Satoshi Chiba

Several taxa of simultaneously hermaphroditic land snails exhibit a conspicuous mating behaviour, the so-called shooting of love darts. During mating, such land snail species transfer a specific secretion by stabbing a mating partner's body with the love dart. It has been shown that sperm donors benefit from this traumatic secretion transfer, because the secretions manipulate the physiology of a sperm recipient and increase the donors' fertilization success. However, it is unclear whether reception of dart shooting is costly to the recipients. Therefore, the effect of sexual conflict and antagonistic arms races on the evolution of traumatic secretion transfer in land snails is still controversial. To examine this effect, we compared lifetime fecundity and longevity between the individuals that received and did not receive dart shooting from mating partners in Bradybaena pellucida . Our experiments showed that the dart-receiving snails suffered reduction in lifetime fecundity and longevity. These results suggest that the costly mating behaviour, dart shooting, generates conflict between sperm donors and recipients and that sexually antagonistic arms races have contributed to the diversification of the morphological and behavioural traits relevant to dart shooting. Our findings also support theories suggesting a violent escalation of sexual conflict in hermaphroditic animals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318
Author(s):  
Birte Wendebourg ◽  
Bernhard Hausdorf

Abstract We investigated the land snail fauna of the Panguana conservation area on the western rim of the Amazonas basin in Peru. A total of 2,322 individuals assigned to 65 land snail species were collected in 32 plots. Ten additional species were found in collections made on previous expeditions to Panguana. On the basis of available data, Panguana is the most species rich locality for land snails in South America. The species density of 75 land snail species in c. 2 km2 of rather homogeneous rainforest is also high on a global scale. The land snail fauna of Panguana is characterized by a very high proportion of species belonging to the carnivorous family Scolodontidae, many of which are likely to be new to science. The fauna includes seven species that are new records for Peru, and the species Hirtudiscus sp., Xenodiscula venezuelensis, Geostilbia aperta, Guppya gundlachii and Thysanophora plagioptycha represent genera not previously recorded from the country. The synanthropic species Allopeas gracile, Opeas hannense, Subulina octona, Geostilbia aperta and Gastrocopta servilis form an ecologically distinct group that occurs mainly in sites strongly modified by humans. The presence of these species on the margin of the Amazon rainforest is evidence of the ongoing homogenization of the global fauna.


2011 ◽  
Vol 493-494 ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kel ◽  
Hasan Gökçe ◽  
D. Bilgiç ◽  
D. Ağaoğulları ◽  
I. Duman ◽  
...  

There are thousands of land snail species, ranging in size from 1 mm to the Giant African Snail growing up to a foot long. Two species, known as escargot, helix aspersa and helix pomatia, are commercially important. Helix pomatia is abundant in Turkey. Those snails are exported usually without shells. Shells are damped to trash sites or used as substitute food for animals. The shell is rich in calcium carbonate and some other minor minerals. Thus, snails’ shells can be used as a source for bioceramic production. So far, in the literature there are lot of papers about converting calcite and aragonite structures to hydroxyapatite (HA), like corals, sea shells, sea urchin and other sea creatures. However, there is very limited information about converting land snail shells to HA and other bioceramic phases. The aim of this work was to produce various phases of bioceramic materials from land snails’ shells which are left as a residue waste after their export procedures. Empty local land snails’ shells (helix pomatia) were collected in Istanbul. They were washed, dried, crushed and ball milled until a powder of 100 µm particles size was obtained. Raw powders were stirred at 80°C for 15 min on a hotplate. A second part of the raw powder was stirred with an ultrasonic stirrer at 80°C for 15 min in an ultrasonic equipment. Equivalent amount of H3PO4 was added drop by drop into the solution. The reaction lasted for 8h. Then, to evaporate the liquid part, the mixtures were put into an incubator at 100°C for 24 h and the resultant dried sediments were collected. The produced powders were analyzed with X-ray diffraction, IR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results confirmed the formation of various Ca-phosphates, specifically monetite, fluorapatite and some other minor calcium phosphate phases. Bioceramic production from land snail is a reliable and economic way comparing to other tedious methods of producing synthetic HA and other various bioceramics phases.


2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-S1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Santos ◽  
Vicenç Bros ◽  
Elisabet Ros

Land-use change is considered the main disturbance in landscape structure and composition, directly affecting faunal distribution and species richness worldwide. Wildfires and natural reforestation alter habitat structure in terms of vegetation cover and also in soil composition and moisture; these processes hence trigger habitat transformations that act as opposing forces at small spatial scales. We have explored the contrasting effects of wildfires and natural reforestation on two land-snail species of the genus Xerocrassa, which are endemic in the western Mediterranean. Snails were sampled in pine and Holm oak forest, stony bare slopes and burnt sites. Both species followed a similar pattern: they were present in more than 75% of the stony bare slope sites and around 50% of the burnt sites, but were almost absent in Holm oak forests. The comparison of aerial photographs from 1956 and 2003 showed that stony bare slopes were significantly larger in 1956, this indicating that the natural reforestation might close these habitats, and consequently threaten the viability of the Xerocrassa populations. Given their limited mobility, the presence of Xerocrassa at burnt sites suggests that these species live in small and cryptic populations within the forest, surviving fire and expanding their distribution due to the appearance of adequate habitats. Our study shows that natural reforestation and fire play opposing roles in conserving Xerocrassa populations. The preservation of stony bare slopes as well as other open areas is a key management guideline to maintain landscape mosaics and help future conservation of species of open habitats such as these vulnerable endemic gastropods.


Zoo Indonesia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayu Savitri Nurinsiyah ◽  
Ita Faizah ◽  
Yogi Prasetio ◽  
Tedi Setiadi ◽  
Ristiyanti Marsetiowati Marwoto ◽  
...  

The land snail fauna of the largest tropical montane forest in Java, the Gunung Halimun Salak National Park (GHSNP), was surveyed during the dry season (June-July) in 2015, concentrating on four park’s resorts, i.e. Cikaniki, Mt. Botol, Cisarua (Halimun area) and Cidahu (Salak area). In total, 399 specimens representing 43 species were collected. Prior to the surveys, 48 land snail species were known from the GHSNP. Fifteen new records for the GHSNP were discovered so 63 species are now known to inhabit the Park. This number represent 25% of the total land snail fauna of Java. 21 of the species found in GHSNP are endemic to Java. The species richness of the plots in GHSNP was correlated with soil pH and the composition of the land snail communities was correlated with elevation, annual mean temperature, and amount of deadwood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-276
Author(s):  
R.A. Hamzat ◽  
A J. Omole ◽  
B.B. Babatunde ◽  
M.O. Adejumo ◽  
O.G Longe

This study was designed to compare the effect of kola testa, which is rich in fibre with maize the conventional energy source and other sources of fibre such as corn bran and rice bran. A total of two hundred and forty African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) with an average live weight of 177.69 ± 10.87g were assigned to four dietary treatments: a maize-based diet (Diet 1) served as control, in a completely randomized design. The other diets were kola testa - based (Diet 2), corn bran-based (Diet 3) and rice bran-based (Diet 4) diets. The percentage of each test ingredient and that of maize was 31.30g/100g Each treatment consisted of sixty growing snails, which were subdivided into 3 replicates of 20 snails each. The snails received the diets over a period of 20 weeks. Weight gain was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the kola testa-based diet in comparison with the corn and rice bran-based diets. Depression of magnesium and iron in the shell, flesh and fluid of snails fed corn and rice bran diets was observed. The trial revealed that kola testa-based diet compared favorably well with the corn and rice bran-based diets.


Oryx ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Wallace M. Meyer ◽  
Lily M. Evans ◽  
Connor J.K. Kalahiki ◽  
John Slapcinsky ◽  
Tricia C. Goulding ◽  
...  

Abstract The Hawaiian archipelago was formerly home to one of the most species-rich land snail faunas (> 752 species), with levels of endemism > 99%. Many native Hawaiian land snail species are now extinct, and the remaining fauna is vulnerable. Unfortunately, lack of information on critical habitat requirements for Hawaiian land snails limits the development of effective conservation strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the plant host preferences of native arboreal land snails in Puʻu Kukui Watershed, West Maui, Hawaiʻi, and compare these patterns to those from similar studies on the islands of Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi. Concordant with studies on other islands, we found that four species from three diverse families of snails in Puʻu Kukui Watershed had preferences for a few species of understorey plants. These were not the most abundant canopy or mid canopy species, indicating that forests without key understorey plants may not support the few remaining lineages of native snails. Preference for Broussaisia arguta among various island endemic snails across all studies indicates that this species is important for restoration to improve snail habitat. As studies examining host plant preferences are often incongruent with studies examining snail feeding, we suggest that we are in the infancy of defining what constitutes critical habitat for most Hawaiian arboreal snails. However, our results indicate that preserving diverse native plant assemblages, particularly understorey plant species, which facilitate key interactions, is critical to the goal of conserving the remaining threatened snail fauna.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qun Yang ◽  
Wanjun Yang ◽  
Feng Shang ◽  
Biyue Ding ◽  
Jinzhi Niu ◽  
...  

The Asian tramp snail, Bradybaena similaris (Ferusssac), is an invasive land snail species and has been a rising agricultural pest in south of China. As a pest, it also plays a role in transmission of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. However, present studies on this species are rare and the molecular information is limited. For this purpose, we sequenced the transcriptome and small RNA of B. similaris collected from citrus orchards. In total, 89,747 unigenes with an N50 size of 1287 bp and an average length of 817 bp were generated from ∼8.9 Gb transcriptome and 31 Mb clean reads were generated from ∼36 Mb small RNA library. To demonstrate the usefulness of these two datasets, we analyzed a series of genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism and core RNAi machinery. Analysis of the transcripts resulted in annotation of 126 putative genes encoding cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP, 45), carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCE, 13), glutathione-S-transferases (GST, 24), and ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC, 44). Analysis of the small RNA detected 42 miRNAs. In addition, four genes involved in small RNA pathways (miRNA, piRNA, and siRNA) were identified, and a total of 430 genes that can be targeted by miRNAs were predicted. Moreover, we found that a few miRNAs could target certain genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Therefore, we believe that these two datasets and the characterization of the identified/predicted genes will facilitate the molecular study of this species as well as other land snails with agricultural importance.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo N. Almeida ◽  
Rodolfo Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Luiz Olmes ◽  
Gustavo S. Semaan ◽  
Daniel de Oliveira ◽  
...  

Decision-support systems benefit from hidden patterns extracted from digital information. In the specific domain of gastropod characterization, morphometrical measurements support biologists in the identification of land snail specimens. Although snails can be easily identified by their excretory and reproductive systems, the after-death mollusk body is commonly inaccessible because of either soft material deterioration or fossilization. This study aims at characterizing Brazilian land snails by morphometrical data features manually taken from the shells. In particular, we examined a dataset of shells by using different learning models that labeled snail specimens with a precision up to 97.5% (F1-Score = .975, CKC = .967 and ROC Area = .998). The extracted patterns describe similarities and trends among land snail species and indicates possible outliers physiologies due to climate traits and breeding. Finally, we show some morphometrical characteristics dominate others according to different feature selection biases. Those data-based patterns can be applied to fast land snail identification whenever their bodies are unavailable, as in the recurrent cases of lost shells in nature or private and museum collections.


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