• Plants (Kingdom Plantae)

• Red Algae (Phylum Rhodophyta)

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Most red algae are multicellular and inhabit rocky shorelines, tide pools, coral reefs, and deeper marine environments, although a small number occur in freshwater. Their characteristic red, pink, or purplish coloration is produced by the pigment phycoerythrin, which efficiently absorbs blue and green light, allowing many species to thrive at greater depths than most other algae. Members of Rhodophyta range from delicate filamentous forms to large, branching seaweeds and hard, calcareous coralline algae that contribute significantly to the formation and stabilization of coral reefs.