lophophore

American  

[lof-uh-fawr, -fohr, loh-fuh-] / ˈlɒf əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈloʊ fə- /

noun

1. the ring of ciliated tentacles encircling the mouth of a bryozoan or phoronid.

2. a similar organ in a brachiopod, composed of two ciliated, spirally coiled tentacles.

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lophophore British  

/ ˈləʊfəˌfɔː /

noun

1. a circle or horseshoe of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth and used for the capture of food in minute sessile animals of the phyla Brachiopoda, Phoronida, and Ectoprocta

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lophophore Scientific  

/ lŏf′ə-fôr′ /

1. A horseshoe-shaped ciliated organ located near the mouth of brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids that is used to gather food.

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Other Word Forms

• lophophoral adjective
• lophophorate adjective

Etymology

Origin of lophophore

1840–50; < Greek lóph ( os ) a crest, ridge + -o- -o- + -phore

Example Sentences

As lophotrochozoans, the organisms in this superphylum possess either a lophophore or trochophore larvae.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Some lophotrochozoan phyla are characterized by a larval stage called trochophore larvae, and other phyla are characterized by the presence of a feeding structure called a lophophore.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The lophophores include groups that are united by the presence of the lophophore, a set of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

It is a remarkable fact that in Discinisca, although the vessels to the lophophore are arranged as in other Brachiopods, no trace of a heart or of the posterior vessels has as yet been discovered.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

The lophophore bears about 20-25 tentacles, which are very slender and of moderate length; the velum at their base is narrow; as a rule the lophophore is accurately circular.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson