DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TERRESTRIAL SPECIES OF MOLLUSKS IN GABON: CASE STUDY OF THE HAUT - OGOOUÉ PROVINCE
ZOUGOU TOVIGNON COMLAN GILBERT *
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
TOURE ABDOURHAMANE IBRAHIM
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
DJINDA BÉNÉDICTE- SHADRISKA
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
NGANSOP NONO FRÉDÉRIC CHRISTOL
Technical School of Agriculture (TSA) Bambili, P.O.Box 15, Bambili (Bamenda), Cameroon.
SIMA OBIANG CÉDRIC
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
MBOKO ARSEINE VALERY
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
NDZANI MATUMUINI FÉRENCE
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
OBAME ENGONGA LOUIS CLÉMENT
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
ONDO JOSEPH-PRIVAT
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
TENDONKENG FERNAND
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, FASA, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
BOUKILA BENOIT
National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnologies (INSAB), University of Science and Techniques Masuku (USTM), P.O.Box 941, Franceville, Gabon.
PAMO TEDONKENG ETIENNE
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, FASA, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to contribute to the acquisition of knowledge on mollusks in Gabon. This work was conducted to identify the different species of terrestrial mollusks in the Haut - Ogooué Province in Gabon. It was realized in the cities of Franceville, Moanda and Okondja. The environments of observation of the mollusks were human dwellings, roadsides, garbage dumps, banana (Musa spp) fields and Macabo (Xanthosoma mafaffa) fields. In addition, in order to determine the abundance of the mollusks according to the time of collection, the time intervals 5:30 - 7:00 am, 2:00 - 3:30 pm and 6:30 - 8:00 pm were retained. After collection, the different species of mollusks were identified according to quarters, observation environments and time of collection in each city. The results revealed that, the number of mollusks varies from one quarter to another. Animal were mainly observed around human dwellings (584 mollusks), garbage dumps (507) and Macabo (Xanthosoma mafaffa) fields (499). A total of 2860 mollusks were collected in the 3 cities. Okondja was the city that recorded the largest number of mollusks collected (1240), followed by Franceville (1034) and Moanda (856). They were mainly collected from 6:30 to 8:00 pm (1939) and between 5:30 7:00 (862). The species identified were Achatina fulica, Achatina iostoma, Limicolairia spp, Archachatina marginata (Swainson) and Archachatina marginata (Saturalis). The two major genera of mollusks, namely the Archachatina and the Achatina, of consumer’s interest, are present in the study area.
Keywords: Archachatina, Achatina, terrestrial mollusks, identification, observation environments, Gabon