This lifeform is found in northern Eurasia. This lifeform is generally found west of the Continental Divide in North America This lifeform is generally found in high altitudes or in mountains. This lifeform is locally common in suitable environments.

Red snow or watermelon snow (Chlamydomonas nivalis) is found at high altitudes in mountains, especially those of California, Oregon, and Washington.  It is very common in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California above 10,000 feet during the summer months.  The reddish snow is caused by an algae that lives in the top 10 inches of snow banks.

Green Algae Group (Chlorophyta) is usually broken into three main categories: Charophyceae, typical Chlorophyceae, and  Euglenophyceae. The Euglenophyceae can also be placed as a separate group in that they contain animal-like features. They are placed here in a separate class as opposed to making them one of the three subgroups of green algae.

Protista kingdom (sometimes spelled as Protoctista) contains numerous phyla including unicellular animals and algae.