Chapter 26.6, Problem 2CC

Summary Introduction

To describe:

Two main functions of the Lophophore.

Introduction:

Lophophore is a distinctive organ possessed by 3 major groups of animals: the Brachiopoda, the Phoronidaand the Bryozoa. They are a ring of tentacles which is horseshoe-shaped or sometimes coiled. These tentacles have several unique features that distinguish them from other tentacles of animals. They are hollow with the mouth located inside the lophophore ring of tentacles, whereas the anus lies outside the ring. They are protected with cilia in a specific arrangement that is responsible for creating a current of water that flows towards the mouth. These features make lophophore a complex structure.