Trochophore
A trochophore is a type of free-swimming planktonic 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 trochozoan clade, which include the entoprocts, molluscs, annelids and nemerteans. 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 shows various trochophore stages :D - early trochophore ;
E - complete trochophore ;
F - late trochophore ;
G - metatrochophore.