Unialgal, cultured material of the red alga Erythrotrichia carnea (subclass Bangiophycidae) was found to contain chlorophyll a while chlorophyll d was absent. All carotenoids belonged to the β,β-series: β,β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin. Within the Rhodophyceae this carotenoid composition reflects both primitive (β,β-carotenoids only) and advanced (tri-oxygenated carotenoid) features. Within the Rhodophyceae these carotenoid characteristics may not be correlated with chloroplast morphology or with systematic position on the subclass level.