What is a lophophore and a trochophore larva?
The lophophore is a feeding structure composed of a set of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth. A trochophore is a free-swimming larva characterized by two bands of cilia surrounding a top-like body. Some of the phyla classified as Lophotrochozoa may be missing one or both of these defining structures.
Which phyla have a lophophore?
Four phyla (Entoprocta, Phoronida, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda) characterized by a ciliated feeding organ called a lophophore.
What type of larvae do the lophotrochozoans have?
As lophotrochozoans, the organisms in this superphylum possess either a lophophore or trochophore larvae. The lophophores include groups that are united by the presence of the lophophore, a set of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth. Lophophorata include the flatworms and several other phyla.
What is the structure of a lophophore?
The lophophore can most easily be described as a ring of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth, but it is often horseshoe-shaped or coiled. Its tentacles are hollow, with extensions of a coelomic space thought to be a mesocoel. The gut is U-shaped with the anterior mouth at the center of the lophophore.
Where are lophophore found?
The lophophore surrounds the mouth and is an upstream collecting system for suspension feeding. Its tentacles are hollow, with extensions of a coelomic space thought to be a mesocoel.
What is a lophophore in biology?
Definition of lophophore : a circular or horseshoe-shaped organ about the mouth especially of a brachiopod or bryozoan that bears tentacles and functions especially in food-getting.
Is a lophophore a Synapomorphy?
The monophyly of Lophophorata implies that the horseshoe-shaped mesosomal lophophore, the tentacular feeding apparatus of ectoprocts, phoronids and brachiopods is, indeed, a synapomorphy of the lophophorate lineages.
Is porifera a trochophore?
Invertebrates- are animals that lack a backbone. They account for 95% of known animal species. Lophotrochozoan- have a lophophore (a crown of cilia that surrounds the mouth) or a trochophore (larvae that have cilia around their middle). Porifera- Sponges are basal animals that lack true tissues.