Evaluation of Long Sea Snail Hinia reticulata (Gastropod) from the Middle Adriatic Sea as a Possible Alternative for Human Consumption

Abstract

<jats:p>In mid Adriatic Sea the common sea snail is the habitual snail eaten, but over the years fishermen started to capture also the long sea snail, a possible alternative for human consumption. This study aims to compare the quality traits of the edible fraction in the common and long sea snails. In this study, common and long sea snail samples were provided by fishermen in November 2018 and March 2019. Total weight (meat and shell), fractions of meat and shell (after having extracted the edible part), fatty acid, elements in meat, and calcium content in shells were determined. Meat quality traits showed high nutritional value without significant differences between the two species. The fatty acid profile showed n3/n6 ratio significantly different both considering the season of sampling (November: 4.1; March: 2.38) and the species of sea snail (common: 4.98; long: 2.86). The long species showed a higher yield in the total body and calcium content concentrations. However, the long sea snail showed 50% lower meat yield compared with the common sea snail. In conclusion, the long sea snail can be used as an alternative to the common sea snail for human consumption.</jats:p>

Field Monitoring of Tritia mutabilis (Linnaeus, 1758) Egg Capsule Deposition and Intracapsular Embryonic Patterns Using Artificial Substrates and Machine Learning-Based Approaches

“…We found the presence of T. reticulata egg capsules on three sites (i.e, A, B, E) with the highest coverage of pyramid surface close to 2% (site B). This result supports previous observations which have reported a progressive increase in the capture rate of T. reticulata along the Italian coastal waters of the central Adriatic Sea (Felici et al, 2020). T. reticulata was found to occupy the same ecological niche of T. mutabilis, living on the same habitat and sharing similar feeding behavior (Fabi and Grati, 2005).…”

Sterol and Mineral Profiles of the Common Sea Snail Hinia Reticulata and the Long Sea Snail Nassarius Mutabilis (Gastropods) Collected from the Middle Adriatic Sea

“…Samples of the two species of sea snails, H. reticulata and N. mutabilis, were collected at different catching times from November 2019 to March 2020 from the middle Adriatic Italian Sea, and processed according to the procedure of Felici et al (2020). 8 At each time of catching, 50 specimens for each specie were sampled and transported in an icepack to the Chemistry and biochemistry laboratory of the School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Camerino (UNICAM) for the determination of total weight (meat + shell) and the separated fractions of meat and shell, after having extracted the edible part. From the edible fractions, pools of each group were homogenised and subjected to analysis.…”

“…CP224S Sartorius, Gottigen, Germany) was used. 8 The moisture content of the snails was determined following the procedure of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC 1990). 17 The edible portion was used for the sterol profile and mineral profile analyses and for the heavy metals and metalloids evaluation.…”

“…A recent study showed that the long sea snail and the common sea snail could be considered a valuable source of nutrients such as protein and fatty acids. 8 In Italy, sea snails are a common product caught from the Adriatic sea. A search detected at the port of San Benedetto del Tronto estimated the annual catches of sea snails caught by the fishermen in Center Italy, showing that the catch of the common sea snail were about kg 780 ± 210 / year and the catch of the long sea snail were about kg 705 ± 190 / year.…”

“…A search detected at the port of San Benedetto del Tronto estimated the annual catches of sea snails caught by the fishermen in Center Italy, showing that the catch of the common sea snail were about kg 780 ± 210 / year and the catch of the long sea snail were about kg 705 ± 190 / year. 8 Snails are also in high demand because of their beneficial sterol profile. Sterols such as cholesterol play an important role in human nutrition, such as in the maintenance of cell structure, in the synthesis of steroidal hormones, and in the production of vitamin D; it is therefore necessary that sterols are included in the diet of humans at appropriate levels.…”