Palythoa mutuki is a zoantharian (family Sphenopidae) found in shallow Indo-Pacific reef environments, forming encrusting colonial mats with a characteristic texture arising from the incorporation of foreign particles. It is documented as a producer of palytoxin-related compounds, making it of toxicological significance and relevant to human health risks associated with coral reef handling. Its genomics contribute to a comprehensive understanding of toxin diversity in Sphenopidae.