Chondracanthus is a red algae genus in the family Gigartinaceae. The name Chondracanthus is from } (' or ') meaning 'cartilage' and (') meaning 'spine or thorn,' together meaning 'with cartilaginous spines.' This refers to the rubbery papillae on the surface of the blades containing the reproductive structures.
A 2008 assessment of the genus showed the following phylogenetic tree: