lophophore
Sign in to savethumb|right|Freshwater bryozoan with lophophore extended thumb|A brachidium (coiled structure), supporting the lophophore (feeding organ), visible between the valves of the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) brachiopod Spiriferina rostrata (35 x 30 mm) thumb|An extinct lophophorate: a Devonian [[microconchid (Potter Farm Formation, Alpena, Michigan)]]
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Characteristics
- Classification of lophophorates
- References
thumb|right|Freshwater bryozoan with lophophore extended thumb|A brachidium (coiled structure), supporting the lophophore (feeding organ), visible between the valves of the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) brachiopod Spiriferina rostrata (35 x 30 mm) thumb|An extinct lophophorate: a Devonian [[microconchid (Potter Farm Formation, Alpena, Michigan)]]
The lophophore () is a characteristic feeding organ possessed by four major groups of animals: the Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Hyolitha, and Phoronida, which collectively constitute the protostome group Lophophorata. All lophophores are found in aquatic organisms.