Journal of Molluscan Research, (JMR) Volume 9, 2022
*Egbebi, J.M., Bamidele, A.J., Aladesida, A.A. , Abdulkareem., Akinnusi, F.A.O
ABSTRACT
The columellar muscles originate from the columellar of the shell, attaching the body parts of snail to the shell and responsible for retraction in coiled gastropods. The attachment of the columellar muscle to the columellar enhances the performance of the columellar muscle. It is important to know the relationship between the columellar and the columellar muscle. This study examines the linear relationship between the columellar muscle and columellar of giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata). Twenty (20) adult size snails (Archachatina marginata) (148±0.03g) were used in this study. The mineral content was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
Sodium and potassium composition were determined by Flame Photometric method. Proximate composition was done according to standard methods. This study shows that the following minerals; K , Ca , Mg , Fe and Cl were present in the columellar and columellar muscle of the giant African land snail (A. marginata). The Columellar had higher ash content (91.10%) than the Columellar muscle (1.79%). The Columellar also recorded a lower fat content (0.47%) compared to the columellar muscle with (1.58%).
There was a positive correlation (r) in moisture content, crude protein, ash content, carbohydrate content, calcium, magnesium and potassium (0.0495, 0.0491, 0.3819, 0.0529, 0.0095 and 0.0552) respectively between the columellar muscle and columellar.
It is established from this study that there existed a positive correlation between columellar muscle of giant African land snails.
Keywords: Giant African land snail, Proximate, Columellar bone, Columellar muscle, relationship
