MORPHOLOGY, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP

ABSTRACT

This study which was conducted at the Useh Flood Reservoir located in the Egor local government area of Edo state to investigate the average weight of the African apple snail (Pila globosa). The African apple snail is a snail species peculiar to tropical and sub-tropical habitats, constituting an important part of the freshwater ecosystem. The samples were purchased from the community inhabitants and thereafter transported to the wet laboratory of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, where they were dissected and measured to obtain the total width, length, aperture length, aperture width, and total weight of the snail and its edible portion. The values were properly documented and analyzed. The data obtained during the duration of the investigation was analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to establish levels of significant difference at 5% probability level and a negative allometric growth pattern (b=2.634) was observed from the length-weight relationship. The study indicated that samples were more abundant at the peak of the rainy season, although mostly between medium to small sizes, whereas larger and weightier snails were obtained towards the beginning or end of the rainy season when rainfall level was minimal. Although, the relative weight and size of Pila globosa varied in numbers. Thus, this study is essential to predict the time of the year at which the snail species are abundant for collection and to also determine approximate amount of edible portion available in the vary degrees of snail sizes.