Trochophore
/ˈtroʊ.kə.fɔːr/noun
A free-swimming larval stage of many marine invertebrates, especially mollusks and annelids.
Did you know?The name was coined from Greek roots for “wheel” and “to bear,” because the larva’s ciliated bands create a whirling, almost enchanted motion under the microscope.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
trókhos
“wheel, something that turns”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phorós
“bearing, carrying”
Late 19th Century
English
trochophore
“a term coined for a larval form bearing wheel-like ciliary bands”
Modern English
English
trochophore
“a free-swimming larva with a ring of cilia used for locomotion and feeding”