Molluscs
119
Description: This species has a solid
elongate shell usually with thick
walls. It is sexually diocious, with
relative female excesses most of the
time.  Length and width of the shells
are 3.5 cm and 1.47 cm, respectively.
Shells with larger size approaching
5 cm are also common (Al-Bassam and
Hassann, 2006).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (Freeze-Dried)
Lipids (%)
Proteins (mg/g)
32.29
9.479
Source: Data from Salman and Nasar
(2013).
CLASS: GASTROPODA (SNAILS)
Lissachatina fulica Bowdich 1822 (= Achatina fulica)
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Achatinidae
Common name: Giant African snail.
Distribution: Throughout East Africa,
ranging from Mozambique in the south
to Kenya and Somalia in the north;
Morocco, the Ivory Coast, and Ghana;
throughout parts of Asia, Caribbean,
and Australia (ARKive).
Habitat: Forest margins, along the
edges of streams and rivers.
Description: Adult snail is about 7 cm
in height, 20  cm in length, and 32  g
in weight. Shell has a conical shape,
being about twice as high as it is broad.
When fully grown, shell has seven to
nine whorls. Either clockwise (dextral)
or counterclockwise (sinistral) directions can be observed in the coiling of
the shell, although the right-handed
(dextral) cone is more common. Shell
coloration is highly variable, and
dependent on diet. Typically, brown
is the predominant color and shell is
banded.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% WW)
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Ash
29.82
4.25
0.11
11.83
Minerals (mg/kg WW)
Na
K
Ca
P
0.163
0.375
0.183
0.339
Source: Data from Adebayo-Tayo et al. (2011).