Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli 70 lichen species (87 specimens) from Central Europe: a-carotene, ß- carotene, /3-cryptoxanthin, lutein. 3'-epilutein, zeaxanthin, 4'-hydroxyechinenone, a-doradexanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, mutatoxanthin, luteoxan- thin, phoenicoxanthin, auroxanthin, neoxanthin, diatoxanthin, /3-carotene monoepoxide, muta- tochrome, aurochrome, cryptoflavin, heteroxanthin, rhodoxanthin, capsochrome, apo-6'-lycopenal, bixin and /3-citraurin. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 1.53 in (Caloplaca citrina) to 161.04 pg g~1dry wt in (Parmeliopsis ambigua).