Abstract
A study of snail species in Mgbowo Community Awgu L.G.A., Enugu State, Nigeria was undertaken from August to September, 2016. Five plots with different ecological features were mapped out for the study and the sampling methods used were handpicking and deep netting. A total of 397 snails belonging to two families and six species were collected. The snail species identified were Achatina achatina, Achatina margnata, Achatina fulica, Lanistes various Limicolaria martensis and Limicolaria aurora. The most abundant species was A. achtina with 127 individuals and a relative abundance of 31.98%. It was followed by A. margnata, L aurora, A. fulica and L martensis with relative abundance of 24.2%, 19.4%, 12.34% and 8.8%. Lanistes varicus was the least abundant with 13 individuals and a relative abundance of 3.30%. The plots differed in diversity and abundance, plot A; 114, plot B: 67, plot C. 82, plot D: 49 and plot E. 85. Lanistes varicus which was collected in the present study are listed in the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list as an endangered species as well as promoted intermediate host for Schistosoma species, so there is a need to adopt a sustainable approach in the utilization and conservation of snail species in Mgbowo community. Limicolaria species is a vector of rat lungworm Angrostronglus cantonesis. The study has helped to identify the diversity of snails living within Mgbowo community and their habitats. Thus, this study revealed that Mgbowo Community has low snail diversity. Again, snail picking by farmers and indigenes of Mgbowo for meat is negligible but may prove to be detrimental to the population of snails in the community in the near future.
Highlights
Snails belong to the class of Gastropoda, a classification that includes land, freshwater and sea snails as well as slugs
The aim of this study is to provide information on the snail species of Mgbowo community in Awgu L.G.A of Enugu State Nigeria by identifying the snail species found in Mgbowo community, by ascertaining the distribution of the snail species in different biomes of Mgbowo community and to ascertain the diversity and abundance of the snail species in different habitats in Mgbowo community
A total of 397 snails were collected from the study area with Achatina achatina being the most abundant species, making up 31% of the total number of snail species collected with 127 individuals
Summary
Snails belong to the class of Gastropoda, a classification that includes land, freshwater and sea snails as well as slugs. Gastropods belong to the phylum Mollusca a classification of invertebrate animals with soft unsegmented body, sometimes covered with an exoskeleton or shell. Snails and slugs are both Gastropods, they are closely related, and regardless the fact that slugs lack a protective shell [1]. Land snails collected from the forest have traditionally been a major part of the West African diet [3]. Land snails form an important component in the forest eco system [6] and they have the largest number of documented extinctions of any major taxonomy group [7]. The major threat to the native land snail fauna include habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of anthropogenic activities such as intense land use, construction of roads, dams, plantations, pollution and spread of invasive species [8] which reduce diversity and change community structure of land snails [9]
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