SHELL-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP IN THE PERIWINKLE, PACHYMELANIA AURITA IN AN ESTUARINE FOREST ECOSYSTEM, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Consequent upon the high standard of living experienced by Nigerians, the demand for proteinrich periwinkles has also been on the increase. The present study, investigates the growth pattern of the periwinkle Pachymelania aurita in the tidal swamps of Issiet in Uruan L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State. Aspects studied were shell length / shell girth-total weight relationship and condition index. Samples of P. aurita were obtained from subsistence fisher-folks for a period of 6 months (July - December, 2024). In the Laboratory of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Akwa Ibom State University, the samples were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm shell length and shell girth and weighed to nearest 0.1 g total weight. The generated data were subjected to relevant statistics analysis using the software (Past.236 version) package. Of the 876 periwinkles collected, 751 (85.7%) were wet season samples and 125 (14.3%) dry season individuals. The periwinkles measured 2.2 - 4.2 cm SL: mean = 3.0 cm; 1.0 - 2.0 cm SG: mean = 1.4 cm; and weighed 1.0 - 5.5 g TW: mean = 2.9 g. The pooled length and weight relationships were: TW = 0.40232776 SL1.709, r = 0.690, N = 876); TW = 0.271000 SG1.24: r = 0.546; N = 876. The average condition index of P. aurita was K = 9.584 ± 2.672; and this indicated good wellness of the species in the tidal swamp rainforest of Issiet. Further studies to cover a 12-month investigation on the species is suggested. The present study of the P. aurita is probably reported for the first time