Nitophyllum divaricatum

Nitophyllum divaricatum is a species of red algae belonging to the genus Nitophyllum. Red algae, part of the division Rhodophyta, are predominantly marine organisms with diverse forms, including filamentous, branched, and sheetlike structures. Their characteristic red or blue color comes from phyco bilin pigments masking chlorophyll.1

Nitophyllum species, like N. divaricatum, are found in coastal regions and attach to substrates with a holdfast. The fronds are typically thin and fan-shaped. N. divaricatum, native to the Galapagos Islands, may be threatened by climate change and increased herbivory. Red algae reproduction involves nonmotile gametes.21