Morphometry and Nutritional Composition of Edible Mollusc Shells from Mkpatak, Nigeria: Implications for Industrial and Nutritional Applications

The giant African land snails possess protective shells that support their soft bodies and help prevent dehydration. These functions are influenced by the chemical composition of the shells. This study investigated the shell morphometry and nutritional composition of edible molluscs (A. marginata, A. achatina, and A. fulica) procured from Offiong market in Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The snails were washed with de-ionized water and dilute acid, cleaned and dried with hand towel after which it was de-shelled. The shells were then dried at 50 0C for 48 hours, ground into fine powder, and sieved to achieve uniformity in particle size and kept in clean and dry plastic bottles for further chemical analysis. Morphometric, proximate, and mineral analyses of the snail’s shell were conducted. Significant interspecies differences (P < 0.05) were recorded in all measured parameters. A. marginata exhibited the highest values across morphometric indices (shell weight, length, and width), indicating its potential for structural applications. Proximate analysis revealed variations in protein, crude fibre, ash, fat, and carbohydrate contents, with A. achatina shell showing the highest fat and carbohydrate concentrations, while A. marginata had the highest crude protein. Mineral analysis indicated Mg and Fe as the most abundant elements, particularly in A. achatina shells, while calcium was generally high across all species, supporting its role as a major structural component. The findings indicate the biological and biotechnological potential of mollusc shells, suggesting their suitability as low-cost sources of minerals, construction materials, and feed additives in animal nutrition.