Eighteen photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids and degradation products) were separated and quantified from Caulerpa prolifera in a single-step procedure by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography over the period from November 1995 to October 1996.
The chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, are typical and characteristic pigments of the Caulerpa prolifera , appeared in a quantity very similar. In several months of the year the chlorophyll b appears in greater quantity than the chlorophyll a, especially during the months of June and July, coinciding with the greater biomass of the alga, and also with a great concentration of the carotenoid siphonein.
 As regards the carotenoids, it was found that violaxanthin, siphonoxanthin and neoxanthin-like were the most common carotenoids.