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Trochozoa

Lophotrochozoa
Temporal range: Early Cambrian - Recent
Caribbean reef squid.jpg
Caribbean reef squid or Sepioteuthis sepioidea is a complex lophotrochozoan.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
(unranked): Protostomia
(unranked): Spiralia
Superphylum: Lophotrochozoa
Halanych et al., 1995
Phyla

The Lophotrochozoa (/ləˌfɒtrkˈzə/, "crest/wheel animals") are a major grouping of protostome animals. The taxon was discovered based on molecular data. Molecular evidence such as a result of studies of the evolution of small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) supports the monophyly of the phyla listed in the infobox shown at right.

The word "lophotrochozoan" is sometimes equated with spiralian. When used in a broader sense (sensu lato), it can include rotifers and platyhelminthes. When used sensu stricto, it refers to a subgroup of Spiralia.

The Lophotrochozoa comprise two groups, the trochozoans and the lophophorata. The exact relationships between the different phyla are not entirely certain.

Other phyla are included on the basis of molecular data.

With the introduction of Platytrochozoa and Rouphozoa, the cladogram is as follows:


Chaetognatha

Ecdysozoa

Gnathifera

Gastrotricha


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Wikipedia

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