Abstract

KARAMOKO, Mamadou; MEMEL, Jean-Didié; KOUASSI KOUADIO, Daniel  and  OTCHOUMOU, Atcho. Effect of animal density on growth and reproduction in the African land snail Limicolaria flammea (Müller), under breeding conditions. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2, pp.393-406. ISSN 2448-8445.

Juvenile snails of Limicolaria flammea (Müller) of approximately two months old, with 1,20 ± 0,02 g average live weight and 15,37 ± 2,34 mm average shell length were subjected four densities (100, 200, 300 and 400 snails/m²) during 12 months in order to determine their effect on growth and reproduction. The best biological performances were obtained with the density of 100 snails/m² which induced high food intake (0,14 ± 0,002 g/day/g of live weight), better growth and low mortality (16%). This density induced high number of laid eggs, high number of eggs per laying and a high percentage of hatching (70,33%) after a relatively short duration of incubation (12 ± 1,8 days). At a density of 400 snails/m², snails nourished themselves little (0,005 ± 0,002 g/day/g of live weight), reproduced slightly and had 60% of mortality.

Keywords : density; growth; Limicolaria flammea (Müller); reproduction.