Lophotrochozoa

Lophotrochozoa (/ləˌfɒtroʊkoʊˈzoʊə/, 'crest/wheel animals') is a clade of protostome animals within the Spiralia. The taxon was established as a monophyletic group based on molecular evidence. The Lophotrochozoa has basal Cycliophora and Mollusca groups, and more derived Lophophorate, Nemertea and Annelida groups. With the introduction of Platytrochozoa and Rouphozoa, one candidate phylogeny is pictured below – though other studies recover a range of alternative possibilities: A number of fossil taxa can be identified as early Lophotrochozoans, even if their precise affinity remains contested. Also relevant Cambrian fossils are debated. The clade Lophotrochozoa is named after the two distinct characteristics of its members, the feeding structure lophophore, which is a ciliated crown of tentacles surrounding a mouth, and the developmental stage trochophore larvae. Lophophorata such as Brachiozoa and Bryozoa have lophophores, while members of Trochozoa such as molluscs and annelids have trochophores. while some may have none.