Palythoa tuberculosa, also known as the pillow zoanthid, or rubbery zoanthid, is a species of cnidarian in the family Sphenopidae. This species is commonly found in shallow tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including Hawai'i, where it plays a role in reef ecosystems by forming encrusting colonies on rocky surfaces.
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Is it venomous or poisonous?
Considered poisonous. Public sources list it as such; we have not verified this individually. The note covers its whole genus. Some members of the genus Palythoa produce the highly toxic palytoxin Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Palythoa caribaeorum — considered poisonous
- Astrea curta
- Leptastrea purpurea
- Duncanopsammia peltata
- Plesiastrea versipora
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Cnidaria
- Class
- Anthozoa
- Order
- Zoantharia
- Family
- Sphenopidae
- Genus
- Palythoa
- Species
- Palythoa tuberculosa
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