Florideophyceae

Classification

There are various classification schemes; see red algae. One option is to use the following:

Subclass Hildenbrandiophycidae

• Hildenbrandiales

Subclass Nemaliophycidae

• Acrochaetiales
• Balbianiales
• Balliales
• Batrachospermales
• Colaconematales
• Nemaliales
• Palmariales
• Entwisleiales
• Thoreales

Subclass Corallinophycidae

• Corallinales
• Corallinapetrales
• Rhodogorgonales
• Sporolithales

The subclass Corallinophycidae was introduced in 2007.

Subclass Ahnfeltiophycidae

• Ahnfeltiales
• Pihiellales

Subclass Rhodymeniophycidae

• Bonnemaisoniales
• Ceramiales
• Gelidiales
• Gigartinales
• Gracilariales
• Halymeniales
• Nemastomatales
• Peyssonneliales
• Plocamiales
• Rhodymeniales
• Acrosymphytales
• Atractophorales
• Catenellopsidales
• Sebdeniales

According to molecular clock analysis, Florideophyceae diverged from other red algae about 943 (817–1,049) million years ago. It split into Hildenbrandiophycidae ca. 781 (681–879) mya, Nemaliophycidae ca. 661 (597–736) mya and Corallinophycidae ca. 579 (543–617) mya, and ca. 508 (442–580) mya the split between Ahnfeltiophycidae and Rhodymeniophycidae occurred.