1. a horseshoe-shaped or circular feeding structure bearing tentacles, found in certain marine invertebrates such as bryozoans and brachiopods
Usage: biology

Examples

• The bryozoan extended its lophophore to filter plankton from the water.
• Scientists studied the lophophore structure to understand the animal’s feeding mechanism.
• The lophophore creates water currents that bring food particles to the organism’s mouth.
• Brachiopods use their lophophore for both feeding and respiration.
• The tentacles on the lophophore are covered with tiny hairs called cilia.
• Marine biologists observed how the lophophore contracted when the animal was disturbed.