The Algae Collection (ACUF) at the Department of Biology of the University of Naples was founded in 1974 by Professors Roberto Taddei, Gabriele Pinto and Patrizia Albertano. The collection is represented by more than 950 strains, mostly belonging to the Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta. Extremophilic algae (thermo-acidophilic and acidotolerant strains isolated from European and extra-European acidic sites) are well represented (over 500 strains)