trochophore
/ˈtroʊkəfɔr/
noun
- A free-swimming, ciliated larval stage of certain marine invertebrates, such as mollusks and annelid worms.
- Marine biologists studied the trochophore stage to understand the life cycle of clams.
- The trochophore larva swam through the water using its tiny hairs.
- Under the microscope, the trochophore looked like a tiny spinning top.
Synonyms