Phylum: Rhodophyta

Class: Florideophyceae

Order: Cryptonemiales

Family: Corallinaceae

Lithothamnion sp.

Encrusting coralline algae

Description: Light pink to lilac coloured encrusting calcareous layer on rocks and other hard substrata. The edge of the crust can sometimes be white, as is seen in some of the following photos. In dead examples, the red pigment is broken down and the white calcium shines through.

Habitat: On rocks in lower intertidal and subtidal zones

Pacific Coast Distribution: Arctic to Chile.

Encrusting red algae with the haptera of some Laminarians	Various red algae encrusting rocks and mussel shells
Encrusting red algae with the haptera of some Laminarians	Encrusting red algae with some more fleshy rhodophytes