[[Image:Trocofora.svg|right|thumb| The anatomy of a trochophore
A - episphere
B - hyposphere
1 - ganglia
2 - apical tuft
3 - prototroch
4 - metatroch
5 - nephridium
6 - anus
7 - protonephridium
8 - gastrointestinal tract
9 - buccal opening
10 - blastocoele]]
A trochophore () is a type of free-swimming marine larva with several bands of cilia.
By moving their cilia rapidly, they make a water eddy to control their movement, and to bring their food closer in order to capture it more easily.
Occurrence
Trochophores exist as a larval form within the
clade, which include the
entoprocta,
,
(including
and
) and
. Together, these phyla make up part of the
Lophotrochozoa; it is possible that trochophore larvae were present in the life cycle of the group's common ancestor.
Etymology
The term
trochophore derives from the
ancient Greek (), meaning "wheel", and () — or () —, meaning 'to bear, to carry',
because the larva is bearing a wheel-shaped band of cilia.
Feeding habits
Trochophore larvae are often planktotrophic; that is, they feed on other plankton species.
Life cycle
The example of the development of the annelid
Pomatoceros lamarckii (family
Serpulidae) shows various trochophore stages (image: D-F):
D - early trochophore ;
E - complete trochophore ;
F - late trochophore ;
G -
metatrochophore.
External links
