Phoronopsis
Phoronopsis is a genus of marine invertebrates belonging to the phylum Phoronida. These small, worm-like animals are sessile, meaning they live attached to a substrate for their entire adult lives. They secrete a chitinous tube, which serves as their protective home. Phoronopsis species are filter feeders, extending a crown of ciliated tentacles called a lophophore into the water to capture microscopic food particles. The lophophore is a distinctive feature of phoronids and is also found in other closely related groups such as brachiopods and bryozoans.
The Phoronopsis body is elongated and divided into two main regions: a mesocoel (the main body cavity
Phoronopsis are found in marine environments worldwide, typically inhabiting shallow coastal waters. They often live in