Carotenes are photosynthetic pigments important for photosynthesis.
Carotene: The term carotene -also carotin, from the Latin carota, 'carrot'- is used for many related unsaturated hydrocarbon substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but in general cannot be made by animals -with the exception of some aphids and spider mites which acquired the synthesizing genes from fungi.