Thelophophore (/ˈlɒfəˌfɔːr,ˈloʊfə-/)^[1] is a characteristic feedingorgan possessed by four major groups ofanimals: theBrachiopoda,Bryozoa,Hyolitha, andPhoronida, which collectively constitute theprotostome groupLophophorata.^[2] All lophophores are found in aquatic organisms.

Lophophore is derived from the Greeklophos (crest, tuft) and-phore,-phoros (φορος) (bearing), a derivative ofphérein (φέρειν) (to bear); thus crest-bearing.

The lophophore can most easily be described as a ring ofciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth, but it is often horseshoe-shaped or coiled. Phoronids have their lophophores in plain view, but the valves of brachiopods must be opened wide to get a good view of their lophophore.

The lophophore surrounds the mouth and is an upstream collecting system for suspension feeding. Its tentacles are hollow, with extensions of acoelomic space thought to be amesocoel. The gut is U-shaped with the anterior mouth at the center of the lophophore. Theanus, where present, is also anterior, but is dorsal to the mouth. In theBryozoa, it is outside the ring of the lophophore. The inarticulatebrachiopods do not have an anus.

Groups with lophophores are calledlophophorates. In the old view ofmetazoanphylogeny, the lophophorates were placed within theDeuterostomia. Now,^[when?] they have been reassessed and placed in a newsuperphylum known as theLophotrochozoa^[3] in theProtostomia, which includes theMollusca andAnnelida.

Newer phylogeny place the bryozoans in the group Polyzoa, which also includesentoproctans andCycliophora, while molluscs,brachiozoans and annelids make up their own group, with brachiozoans and annelids as possible sister taxa.^[4][5]

The extincthederelloids,microconchids,cornulitids, andtentaculitids were likely lophophorates based on their biomineralization.^[6]

The position of theHyolitha has long been disputed, but as of 2017, it has been assigned to the Lophophorata as finely-preserved specimens in theBurgess Shale can be seen to carry lophophores.^[7] Lophophorates did appear paraphyletic, but that is contested.^[8][9][10]

• Protostome anatomy

• Use dmy dates from November 2022
• All articles with vague or ambiguous time
• Vague or ambiguous time from May 2018