Lophotrochozoa

The Lophotrochozoa ( /ləˌfɒtrɵkɵˈzoʊ.ə/, "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.