The Proximate and Mineral Composition of Two Edible Crabs Callinectes amnicola and Uca tangeri (Crustecea: Decapoda) of The Cross River, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the nutritional qualities of the flesh and shell of Uca tangeri and Callinectes amnicola of the Cross River, Nigeria. Specimens of C. amnicola used for this study were bought from fishermen at the beach of the Cross River behind the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. These specimens were subjected to proximate analysis using the methods recommended by the Association of Analytic Chemist (AOAC) and with the aid of the Spectrophometer for the determination of the mineral contents of species. The moisture content of the specimens was high giving 72.31±0.96% and 74.54±0.03% for the flesh of U. tangeri and C. amnicola respectively while the moisture determined in the shell of C. amnicola was 33.60±0.15%. The crude protein content of the flesh of both species were significant (p>0.05) with the protein level of U. tangeri being higher than that determined in C. amnicola. But the total protein level of C. amnicola (flesh and carcass) was 25±3.55 which was higher than that measured in U. tangeri by 2.23%. Other parameters which were measured in C. amnicola were higher and showed significant differences (p>0.05) between themselves. The organisms are rich in minerals although significant differences could be established; there were significant differences between the minerals content of U. tangeri and the flesh and shell of C. amnicola (p>0.05).