Trochophore

9-hour-old trochophore of the marine gastropod Haliotis asinina

Ontogeny of the Polyplacophora: First image shows the trochophore, second shows the stadium in metamorphosis, third is a juvenile

A trochophore is a type of larva found in marine plankton. It belongs to animals of several related phyla, in the superphylum Lophotrochozoa.

They have two or more bands of cilia. By moving their cilia rapidly, a water eddy is created. In this way they control the direction of their movement. Also, in this way they bring their food closer, to capture it more easily.