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Red algae are predominantly marine organisms that inhabit the high intertidal to deep subtidal zone. They are mostly multicellular, filamentous or pseudoparenchymatous, branched or unbranched, cylindrical to compressed or foliaceous.
Many species are microscopic, unicellular or short-filamentous; very few species are larger, macroscopic algae.
In a few species, phycocyanin dominates giving a steel-gray instead of the more common red color.
Carbohydrates known as floridean starch are characteristic storage metabolites.
Most red algae are perennial, usually with separate sporangial and gametangial stages in their life history, the stages similar or dissimilar in appearance.
They are mostly dioecious plants and have non-motile spores and male gametes (spermatia).
Authors: Diego Ruiz, Frauke Ziemmeck.
Other Contributors: Stuart Banks, Margarita Brandt, Rodrigo Bustamante, Angel Chiriboga, Graham Edgar, José Miguel Fariña, Peter Glynn, Jack Grove, Alex Hearn, Cleveland Hickman, Paul Humann, Jerson Moreno, Fernando Pinillos, Fernando Rivera, Franz Smith, Marco Toscano, Mariana Vera, Luis Vinueza.
Names of taxa included: 248 total (237 accepted, 1 doubtful, 8 preliminary identification, 2 problematic).
Origin of the taxa included: 58 endemic.
Click on orders and families to expand the checklist; click on species names to navigate to species page.
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Division Rhodophyta
Class Compsopogonophyceae
Order Erythropeltidales
Family Erythrotrichiace
Genus Erythrotrichia
Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillwyn) J. Agardh
Erythrotrichia polymorpha M.A.Howe, 1914
Erythrotrichia reflexa (P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan) Thuret ex De Toni, 1897
Class Florideophyceae
Order Acrochaetiales
Family Acrochaetiaceae
Genus Acrochaetium
Acrochaetium microscopicum (Nägeli ex Kützing) Nägeli
Order Ahnfeltiales
Family Ahnfeltiaceae
Genus Ahnfeltia
Ahnfeltia durvillei var. implicata (Kutzing) Howe, 1914
Ahnfeltia svensonii W.R.Taylor, 1945
Order Bonnemaisoniales
Family Bonnemaisoniaceae
Genus Asparagopsis
Asparagopsis sanfordiana f. amplissima Setchell & Gardner, 1924
Asparagopsis svedelii W.R.Taylor, 1945
Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan de Saint-Léon, 1845
Order Ceramiales
Family Callithamniaceae
Seccion Callithamnieae
Genus Callithamnion
Callithamnion ecuadoreanum Taylor, 1945
Callithamnion epiphyticum W.R. Taylor, 1945
Callithamnion rupicola C.L.Anderson, 1894
Family Ceramiaceae
Genus Ardreanema
Ardreanema seriospora (E.Y.Dawson) R.E.Norris, 1994
Seccion Gymnothamnieae
Genus Gymnothamnion
Gymnothamnion elegans (Schousboe ex C. Agardh) J. Agardh
Subfamily Ceramioideae
Seccion Antithamnieae
Genus Antithamnion
Antithamnion veleroae W.R. Taylor, 1945
Seccion Ceramieae
Genus Centroceras
Centroceras clavulatum (C.Agardh) Montagne, 1846
Centroceras clavulatum var. inerme (Kützing) Weber-van Bosse
Centroceras fimbriatum Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Centroceras gasparrinii (Meneghini) Kützing
Genus Ceramium
Ceramium affine Setchell & N.L.Gardner, 1930
Ceramium cimbricum H.E. Petersen
Ceramium clarionense Setchell & N.L.Gardner, 1930
Ceramium fimbriatum Setchell & N.L.Gardner, 1924
Ceramium hoodii W.R.Taylor, 1945
Ceramium horridum Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Ceramium howellii Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Ceramium macilentum J. Agardh
Ceramium prostratum E.Y. Dawson
Ceramium recticorticum E.Y. Dawson
Ceramium serpens Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Ceramium templetonii Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Genus Gayliella
Gayliella flaccida (Harvey ex Kützing) T.O. Cho & L.J. McIvor
Seccion Heterothamnieae
Genus Antithamnionella
Antithamnionella breviramosa (E.Y. Dawson) Wollaston
Seccion Pterothamnieae
Genus Platythamnion
Seccion Scagelieae
Genus Scagelia
Scagelia pylaisaei (Montagne) M.J. Wynne
Family Dasyaceae
Genus Dasya
Dasya baillouviana var. stanfordiana (Farlow) J.N. Norris & K.E. Bucher
Genus Heterosiphonia
Heterosiphonia crispella var. laxa (Børgesen) M.J. Wynne
Heterosiphonia erecta N.L. Gardner
Heterosiphonia subdisticha Okamura
Heterosiphonia wurdemannii var. laxa Børgesen
Family Delesseriaceae
Genus Austrofolium
Austrofolium equatorianum (E.Y. Dawson) M.J. Wynne
Austrofolium howellii (W.R. Taylor) M.J. Wynne
Genus Phycodrina
Phycodrina elegans (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) M.J. Wynne
Genus Pseudolaingia
Pseudolaingia hancockii (W.R. Taylor) M.J. Wynne
Genus Taenioma
Taenioma perpusillum (J. Agardh) J. Agardh
Subfamily Delesserioideae
Genus Caloglossa
Caloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) G. Martens
Seccion Hypoglosseae
Genus Hypoglossum
Hypoglossum attenuatum var. abyssicolum (W.R. Taylor) E.Y. Dawson
Subfamily Nitophylloideae
Seccion Nitophylleae
Subfamily Phycodryoideae
Seccion Cryptopleureae
Genus Cryptopleura
Cryptopleura crispa Kylin
Cryptopleura imbricata E.Y. Dawson
Cryptopleura ruprechtiana (J. Agardh) Kylin
Cryptopleura violacea (J. Agardh) Kylin
Seccion Myriogrammeae
Genus Myriogramme
Myriogramme kylinii W.R. Taylor
Family Rhodomelaceae
Genus Alsidium
Alsidium pusillum E.Y. Dawson
Genus Neosiphonia
Neosiphonia howei (Hollenberg) Skelton & G.R. South
Neosiphonia simplex (Hollenberg) Y.-P. Lee
Genus Osmundea
Osmundea sinicola (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) K.W. Nam
Seccion Bostrychieae
Genus Bostrychia
Bostrychia calliptera (Montagne) Montagne
Bostrychia radicans (Montagne) Montagne
Bostrychia simpliciuscula Harvey ex J. Agardh
Bostrychia tenella (J.V. Lamouroux) J. Agardh
Seccion Chondrieae
Seccion Herposiphonieae
Genus Herposiphonia
Herposiphonia secunda (C. Agardh) Ambronn
Herposiphonia secunda f. tenella (C. Agardh) M.J. Wynne
Herposiphonia subdisticha Okamura
Seccion Laurencieae
Genus Laurencia
Laurencia congesta W.R. Taylor
Laurencia densissima Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Laurencia ligulata E.Y. Dawson
Laurencia mediocris Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Laurencia obtusa var. gracilis (C. Agardh) Zanardini
Laurencia obtusiuscula var. corymbifera Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Laurencia oppositocladia W.R. Taylor
Laurencia turbinata Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Seccion Polysiphonieae
Genus Polysiphonia
Polysiphonia bifurcata Hollenberg
Polysiphonia decussata Hollenberg
Polysiphonia pacifica var. delicatula Hollenberg
Polysiphonia scopulorum var. villum (J. Agardh) Hollenberg
Polysiphonia sertularioides (Grateloup) J. Agardh
Polysiphonia simplex Hollenberg
Seccion Pterosiphonieae
Genus Pterosiphonia
Pterosiphonia dendroidea (Montagne) Falkenberg
Pterosiphonia paucicorticata E.Y. Dawson
Family Wrangeliaceae
Seccion Griffithsieae
Genus Anotrichium
Anotrichium tenue (C.Agardh) Nägeli, 1862
Genus Griffithsia
Griffithsia pacifica Kylin
Seccion Spermothamnieae
Genus Tiffaniella
Tiffaniella phycophilum (W.R. Taylor) E.M. Gordon
Tiffaniella snyderae (Farlow) I.A. Abbott
Seccion Spongoclonieae
Genus Pleonosporium
Pleonosporium complanatum W.R. Taylor
Order Chroococcales
Family Dermocarpellaceae
Genus Dermocarpa
Dermocarpa simulans Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Dermocarpa sphaerica var. galapagensis Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Order Colaconematales
Family Colaconemataceae
Genus Colaconema
Colaconema daviesii (Dillwyn) Stegenga, 1985
Order Corallinales
Family Corallinaceae
Genus Archaeolithothamnion
Archaeolithothamnion crosslandii M. Lemoine
Archaeolithothamnion pacificum (E.Y. Dawson) E.Y. Dawson
Genus Pseudolithophyllum
Pseudolithophyllum decipiens (Foslie) Steneck & Paine
Subfamily Amphiroideae
Genus Amphiroa
Amphiroa anceps (Lamarck) Decaisne
Amphiroa annulata M. Lemoine
Amphiroa beauvoisii J.V. Lamouroux
Amphiroa compressa M. Lemoine
Amphiroa crustiformis E.Y. Dawson
Amphiroa dimorpha M. Lemoine
Amphiroa galapagensis W.R. Taylor
Amphiroa peruana J.E. Areschoug
Amphiroa polymorpha M. Lemoine
Amphiroa valonioides Yendo
Amphiroa vanbosseae M. Lemoine
Subfamily Corallinoideae
Genus cf. Corallina
cf. Corallina berterii Mont.
Genus Corallina
Corallina officinalis var. chilensis (Decaisne) Kützing
Corallina pinnatifolia (Manza) E.Y. Dawson
Seccion Janieae
Subfamily Lithophylloideae
Genus Lithophyllum
Lithophyllum alternans M. Lemoine
Lithophyllum amplostratum W.R. Taylor
Lithophyllum canescens (Foslie) Foslie
Lithophyllum complexum M. Lemoine
Lithophyllum decussatum (J. Ellis & Solander) Philippi
Lithophyllum divaricatum M. Lemoine
Lithophyllum duckerae Woelkerling
Lithophyllum intermedium Foslie
Lithophyllum moluccense var. geminostratum W.R. Taylor
Lithophyllum mutabile M. Lemonie
Lithophyllum prototypum (Foslie) Foslie
Lithophyllum pustulatum (J.V. Lamouroux) Foslie
Lithophyllum rileyi M. Lemoine
Lithophyllum sancti-georgei M. Lemoine
Genus Titanoderma
Titanoderma erecta (M. Lemoine) ?
Subfamily Mastophoroideae
Genus Neogoniolithon
Neogoniolithon brassica-florida (Harvey) Setchell & L.R. Mason
Neogoniolithon frutescens var. galapagense (Foslie) P. C. Silva
Neogoniolithon trichotomum (Heydrich) Setchell & L.R. Mason
Genus Spongites
Spongites decipiens (Foslie) Y.M. Chamberlain
Family Hapalidiaceae
Subfamily Choreonematoideae
Genus Choreonema
Choreonema thuretii (Bornet) F. Schmitz
Subfamily Melobesioideae
Genus Lithothamnion
Lithothamnion cottoni M. Lemoine
Lithothamnion fragiissimum Foslie
Lithothamnion phymatodeum Foslie
Lithothamnion pocillum M. Lemoine
Genus Melobesia
Melobesia accola (Foslie) M. Lemoine
Melobesia galapagensis (Foslie) W.R. Taylor
Melobesia marginata Setchell & Foslie
Melobesia membranacea (Esper) J.V. Lamouroux
Genus Mesophyllum
Mesophyllum laxum M. Lemoine
Order Gelidiales
Family Gelidiaceae
Genus Gelidium
Gelidium crinale (Hare ex Turner) Gaillon
Gelidium filicinum Bory de Saint-Vincent
Gelidium galapagense W.R. Taylor
Gelidium hancockii W.R. Taylor
Gelidium isabelae W.R. Taylor
Gelidium pusillum (Stackhouse) Le Jolis
Gelidium pusillum var. cylindricum W.R. Taylor
Gelidium pusillum var. pacificum W.R. Taylor
Gelidium robustum (N.L. Gardner) Hollenberg & I.A. Abbott
Gelidium sclerophyllum W.R. Taylor
Gelidium serrulatum J. Agardh
Genus Pterocladiella
Pterocladiella capillacea (S.G. Gmelin) Santelices & Hommersand
Family Gelidiellaceae
Genus Gelidiella
Gelidiella machrisiana E.Y. Dawson
Genus Parviphycus
Parviphycus tenuissimus (Feldmann & G. Hamel) B. Santelices
Order Gigartinales
Family Areschougiaceae
Genus Agardhiella
Agardhiella subulata (C. Agardh) Kraft & M.J. Wynne
Genus Sarcodiotheca
Sarcodiotheca divaricata W.R. Taylor
Sarcodiotheca ecuadoreana W.R. Taylor
Sarcodiotheca furcata (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) Kylin
Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii (Montagne) Gabrielson
Sarcodiotheca tenuis W.R. Taylor
Family Caulacanthaceae
Genus Catenella
Catenella caespitosa (Withering) L.M. Irvine
Catenella opuntia (Goodenough & Woodward) Greville
Family Cystocloniaceae
Genus Hypnea
Hypnea marchantae Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Hypnea pannosa J. Agardh
Hypnea spinella (C. Agardh) Kützing
Hypnea valentiae (Turner) Montagne
Family Dumontiaceae
Genus Dilsea
Family Gigartinaceae
Genus Chondracanthus
Chondracanthus acicularis (Roth) Fredericq
Chondracanthus tepidus (Hollenberg) Guiry
Genus Chondrus
Chondrus albemarlensis W.R. Taylor
Chondrus canaliculatus (C. Agardh) Greville
Chondrus hancockii W.R. Taylor
Family Kallymeniaceae
Genus Callophyllis
Callophyllis ligulata W.R. Taylor
Genus Pugetia
Pugetia latiloba (W.R. Taylor) R.E. Norris
Family Phyllophoraceae
Genus Ahnfeltiopsis
Ahnfeltiopsis durvillei (Bory de Saint-Vincent) P.C. Silva & DeCew
Ahnfeltiopsis smithii (W.R. Taylor) K.M. Dreckmann & I. Stout
Ahnfeltiopsis vermicularis (C. Agardh) P.C. Silva & DeCew
Genus Gymnogongrus
Gymnogongrus griffithsiae var. galapagensis Piccone & Grunow
Gymnogongrus martinensis Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Gymnogongrus melanothrix Grunow
Genus Stenogramma
Stenogramma interrupta (C. Agardh) Montagne ex Harvey
Family Rhizophyllidaceae
Family Sebdeniaceae
Genus Sebdenia
Sebdenia rubra W.R. Taylor
Order Gracilariales
Family Gracilariaceae
Genus Gracilaria
Gracilaria ecuadoreanus (W.R. Taylor) E.Y. Dawson
Gracilaria skottsbergii W.R. Taylor
Gracilaria subsecundata Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Gracilaria textorii (Suringar) De Toni
Genus Gracilariopsis
Gracilariopsis panamensis (W.R. Taylor) E.Y. Dawson
Order Halymeniales
Family Halymeniaceae
Genus Carpopeltis
Carpopeltis bushiae (Farlow) Kylin
Carpopeltis clarionensis (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) E.Y. Dawson
Genus Cryptonemia
Cryptonemia limensis (Kützing) J.A. Lewis
Genus Grateloupia
Grateloupia howeii Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Grateloupia versicolor (J. Agardh) J. Agardh
Genus Halymenia
Halymenia santamariae W.R. Taylor
Genus Pachymenia
Pachymenia saxicola W.R. Taylor
Genus Prionitis
Prionitis abbreviata Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Prionitis acroidalea (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) E.Y. Dawson
Prionitis albemarlensis W.R. Taylor
Prionitis galapagensis W.R. Taylor
Prionitis hancockii W.R. Taylor
Order Hildenbrandiales
Family Hildenbrandiaceae
Genus Hildenbrandia
Hildenbrandia galapagensis Setchell & N.L. Gardner
Hildenbrandia occidentalis Setchell
Hildenbrandia rubra (Sommerfelt) Meneghini
Order Nemaliales
Family Galaxauraceae
Genus Dichotomaria
Dichotomaria marginata (J. Ellis & Solander) Lamarck
Dichotomaria obtusata (J. Ellis & Solander) Lamarck
Dichotomaria obtusata var. major (W.R. Taylor) M.J. Wynne
Dichotomaria spathulata (Kjellman) A. Kurihara & Huisman
Genus Galaxaura
Galaxaura barbata R.C.Y. Chou
Galaxaura filamentosa R.C.Y. Chou
Galaxaura intermedia R.C.Y. Chou
Galaxaura marginata var. linearis (Kützing) J. Agardh
Family Scinaiaceae
Genus Scinaia
Scinaia complanata (F.S. Collins) A.D. Cotton
Scinaia confusa (Setchell) Huisman
Scinaia johnstoniae Setchell
Scinaia latifrons M.A. Howe
Scinaia setchellii W.R. Taylor
Order Nemastomatales
Family Schizymeniaceae
Genus Schizymenia
Schizymenia ecuadoreana (W.R. Taylor) I.A. Abbott
Order Palmariales
Family Palmariaceae
Genus Palmaria
Palmaria palmata (L.) Kuntze
Order Peyssonneliales
Family Peyssonneliaceae
Genus Peyssonnelia
Peyssonnelia clarionensis W.R. Taylor
Peyssonnelia dubyi P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan
Peyssonnelia mexicana E.Y. Dawson
Peyssonnelia rubra var. orientalis Weber-van Bosse
Peyssonnelia rubra var. rubra (Greville) J. Agardh
Order Plocamiales
Family Plocamiaceae
Genus Plocamium
Plocamium cartilagineum (L.) P.S. Dixon
Plocamium cartilagineum ssp. pacificum (Kylin) P.C. Silva
Order Rhodymeniales
Family Champiaceae
Genus Champia
Champia parvula (C. Agardh) Harvey
Family Faucheaceae
Genus Fauchea
Fauchea galapagensis f. pygmaea W.R. Taylor
Genus Gloiocladia
Gloiocladia galapagensis (W.R. Taylor) Sánchez & Rodríguez-Prieto
Family Lomentariaceae
Genus Gelidiopsis
Gelidiopsis intricata (C. Agardh) Vickers
Gelidiopsis variabilis (Greville ex J. Agardh) Schmitz
Family Rhodomeniales incertae sedis
Genus Sciadophycus
Sciadophycus stellatus E.Y. Dawson
Family Rhodymeniaceae
Genus Halichrysis
Halichrysis irregularis (Kützing) A.J.K. Millar
Genus Rhodymenia
Rhodymenia californica Kylin
Rhodymenia dawsonii W.R. Taylor
Rhodymenia decumbens W.R. Taylor
Rhodymenia divaricata E.Y. Dawson
Rhodymenia flabellifolia (Bory de Saint-Vincent) Montagne
Rhodymenia pseudopalmata (J.V. Lamouroux) P.C. Silva
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