The Hyolithida are

lophophorate The Lophophorata are a Lophotrochozoan clade consisting of the Brachiozoa and the Bryozoa. They have a lophophore. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that lophophorates are protostomes Protostomia () is the clade of animals once though ...

s, one of the two orders of

hyolithid Hyoliths are animals with small conical shells, known as fossils from the Palaeozoic era. They are at least considered as lophotrochozoan, and possibly being lophophorates, a group which includes the brachiopods, while others consider them as b ...

, the other being the

Orthothecida The orthothecids are one of the two hyolith orders. Marek diagnoses the order thus: Conchs with a flat or concave ventral surface — opercula with large, flat cardinal processes but without clavicles – tightly sigmoidal, sediment-filled intes ...

. Most of our knowledge of the hyolithids comes from studies on the Hyolithida. Both orders had an operculum that was not hinged to the conch. However, the Hyolithida are distinct from the Orthothecida in having additional paired, curved, whiskerlike appendages. The Hyolithida were probably bottom feeders living in shallow water, and had tentacules.

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Further reading