There are about 6,000 species in this phylum but 98% of them are marine. This phylum contains red algae which has specialized pigments, phycoerythrins and phycocyanins, which help them survive on the benthic level. They can be found at depths of 200 meters. These pigments are also best at absorbing blue and green light waves. The huge amount of phycoerythrins give the algae their red color. However their not always red, their thallus can be multiple colors including black or yellow. Most of the members are multicellular and are less than one meter long. A good example of this algae is nori. Nori is widely consumed in Asian cuisine. The crunchy and robust characteristics of nori results from it's thallus having branching filaments. When it is wet it is delicate and fluffy but as it dries it changes. Red algae also produces carrageenan, also known as agar, that is a thickening agent. It is used in many item such as ice cream, chocolates, cosmetics, and toothpaste.