The soluble polysaccharides of few species of the family Rhodymenaceae (Rhodophyta) have been studied. According to the literature members of this family are agarophytes. Dried samples of tetrasporic, cystocarpic and gametophytic Rhodymenia howeana and tetrasporic R. corallina were analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Results indicate that these seaweeds are not agar producers. Aqueous extraction followed by chemical and FT-IR analysis showed that the extracts are very similar in composition. Carrageenotype structures in the polysaccharides were not found.