[[Image:Trocofora.svg|right|thumb|The anatomy of a trochophore<br />
A - episphere<br />
B - hyposphere<br />
1 - ganglia<br />
2 - apical tuft<br />
3 - prototroch<br />
4 - metatroch<br />
5 - nephridium<br />
6 - anus<br />
7 - protonephridia<br />
8 - gastrointestinal tract<br />
9 - buccal opening<br />
10 - blastocoele]]
A trochophore () is a type of free-swimming planktonic marine larva with several bands of cilia.
By moving their cilia rapidly, they make a water eddy to control their movement, and to bring their food closer in order to capture it more easily.
Occurrence
Trochophores exist as a larval form within the trochozoan clade, which include the entoprocts, molluscs, annelids (including echiurans and sipunculans) and nemerteans. Together, these phyla make up part of the Lophotrochozoa; it is possible that trochophore larvae were present in the life cycle of the group's common ancestor.
Etymology
The term trochophore derives from the ancient Greek (), meaning "wheel", and () — or () —, meaning 'to bear, to carry', because the larva is bearing a wheel-shaped band of cilia.
Feeding habits
Trochophore larvae are often planktotrophic; that is, they feed on other plankton species.
Life cycle
thumb|left|Bright-field microscope image of trochophore of annelid [[Pomatoceros lamarckii (family Serpulidae)]]
The example of the development of the annelid Pomatoceros lamarckii (family Serpulidae) shows various trochophore stages (image: D-F):<br />
D - early trochophore ;<br />
E - complete trochophore ;<br />
F - late trochophore ;<br />
G - metatrochophore.
thumb|9-hour-old trochophore of the marine gastropod [[Haliotis asinina (sf - shell field)]]
thumb|400px|left|Ontogeny of the [[Polyplacophora: First image shows the trochophore, second shows the stadium in metamorphosis, third is a juvenile (scanning electron microscope: SEM)]]