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Onchidella binneyi
	Dorsal view
	Ventral view
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Systellommatophora
Family:	Onchidiidae
Genus:	Onchidella
Species:	O. binneyi
Binomial name
	Onchidella binneyi; Stearns, 1894
Synonyms
	Onchidella carpenteri Stearns, 1879 nec Binney, 1861 ; Onchidium carpenteri Semper, 1885 nec Binney, 1861 ; Oncidiella hildae Hoffmann, 1928;

Onchidella binneyi, also known as Onchidella carpenteri, Onchidium carpenteri, and Oncidiella hildae, is a species of air-breathing sea slug, a shell-less marine pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Onchidiidae.^[2]

Description

The Onchidella binneyi are dark grey sea slugs around 2-3 centimeters in length.^[4] They produce a defensive secretion as protection against predators because of the absence of the typical defense mechanism of other gastropods, an external shell. This defensive secretion contains the compound Onchidal, which acts as a feeding deterrent. Released after the initial attack, the effect on the predator is irreversible. Onchidal causes the predator to forego the sea-slug as a meal option. The toxicity level to predators and humans is not well known.^[5]

Distribution

This species is found along the western coast of the Pacific from the Bahia de Los Angeles in the Gulf of California to Ecuador.^[3] Onchidella binneyi are found in the upper intertidal zones of rocky shores. They cannot be on the lower levels because they do not have strong enough grips to withstand the rising and falling tides and the harsh wave activity that occurs in the rocky intertidal zone.^[4]

Behavior

O. binneyi feeding and general activity patterns have strong correlations with the rise and fall of the tides. When the tide is low, there is often a burst of activity among the sea slug as they come out to feed. They are most active at night, when they are exposed to air. This is because they lack any adaptation that allows them to clamp tightly to rocks on the intertidal zones. Therefore, when wave surges happen on the shore, they are easily dislodged. Alternatively, when tides are high, O. binneyi activity is lessened and their presence is sparse.^[4]

Importance

Onchidal, when isolated from the defensive secretion of the Onchidella binneyi, has demonstrated growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus. This means it is a compound to inhibit Gram-positive bacteria. This is important because of its antimicrobial activity, which means it can help prevent disease. O. binneyi performs naturally cytotoxic activities that have a significant effect on lymphocytic leukemia cell growth in humans. They also have substantial growth inhibition for colon cancer cells, epidermoid carcinoma cells, breast cancer cells, and many more. With these agents, anti-tumor drugs can be produced and usher in a new type of cancer treatment. They also produce anti-inflammatory and lipid lowering effects. This means that they are able to lower cholesterol levels in humans.^[6]

References

^ Stearns, Robert E. C. (1893). "On rare or little known mollusks from the west coast of North and South America, with descriptions of new species". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 16 (941): 342–343. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.16-941.341; Pl. 50, Figs. 1–2. {{cite journal}}: External link in |postscript= (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^ ^a ^b Bouchet, P., Dayrat, B. (2014). Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O (eds.). "Onchidella binneyi Stearns, 1894". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
^ ^a ^b Dayrat, Benoît; Zimmermann, Sara; Raposa, Melissa (2011). "Taxonomic revision of the Onchidiidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific". Journal of Natural History. 45 (15–16): 943–962. doi:10.1080/00222933.2010.545486.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pepe, Phillip John; Pepe, Sueanne M (1985). "The Activity Pattern of Onchidella-Binneyi Stearns (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia)". The Veliger. 27 (4): 375–380.
^ Ireland, Chris; Faulkner, D. John (June 1978). "The Defensive Secretion of the Opisthobranch Mollusc Onchidella Binneyi". Bioorganic Chemistry. 7 (2): 125–131.
^ Wang, Bowen; Chen, Deli; Yu, Meng; Liu, Yangyang; Liu, Pinghuai; Zhang, Xiaopo (17 November 2020). "A Review on Metabolites from Onchidium Genus: Chemistry and Bioactivity". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 18 (2).