An electrophoretic study of protein diversity in five species of land snails (Achatinidae) from Nigeria

Abstract

The protein profile of five species of achatinid snails (Archachatina marginata (Swainson, 1821), Achatina achatina (Linnaeus, 1758), Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822), Archachatina papyracea (Pfeiffer, 1845) and an unidentified snail species) from some parts of southern and north-central states of Nigeria was used to examine the level of genetic similarity between them and also to show whether the eight populations of Archachatina marginata studied contained sub-populations. Each of the species examined was found to have unique protein bands while the protein banding patterns of the eight populations of A. marginata showed six of the populations being taxonomically distinct because they had unique protein bands. The cluster analysis of the A. marginata samples produced two sub-species which showed geographical separation of the species. This may depict a relationship between total protein and ecological adaptation. However, there was better resolution of the protein band patterns using relative mobility of bands. The presence of common bands among the species and the eight populations of A. marginata may depict an evidence of evolutionary origin of the species studied.

Cytogenetic study and serum protein characterization of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> (BURCHELL, 1822) and <i>Heterobranchus bidorsalis</i> (Geoffroy Saint-Hillaire, 1809) in South western Nigeria

“…First, that the two species have similar bands which are controlled by the same genes. Awodiran et al (2013) reported that the appearance of a band in all individuals of a population, assumes that the gene, which codes for the enzyme or protein, does not vary. Second, the presence of common bands also may be indicative of evolutionary relationship of the two species belonging to the same family, Clariidae.…”

Toxicity and accumulation of lead and cadmium in the land snail, Archachatina papyracea, in a tropical Alfisol from Southwestern Nigeria

“…The high accumulation observed byOtitoloju et al (2009) was probably because it is a laboratory study as the present stduy, and the method of application showed that both food and soil could have been dosed.However, in our study, only soil was dosed. Moreover, the increased accumulation of Pb or Cd in the laboratory studies showed that laboratory studies might over-exaggerate the accumulation of metals by snails in the wild, perhaps due to bioavailability differences or increased propensity of snails in the wild avoid contamination owing to a larger landscape.Land snails belonging to the family Achatinidae are native to Africa(Awodiran et al 2013). Many snail genera such as Archachatina belonging to this family are often consumed as food in Nigeria.…”

“…Many snail genera such as Archachatina belonging to this family are often consumed as food in Nigeria. Their meat is proteinous with low cholesterol and contains vital minerals making them nutritious(Awodiran et al 2013;Onuoha et al 2016). Therefore, snails can also be a source of human health concern in Nigeria if contaminated snails are consumed…”