Family OPISTHONECTIDAE Foissner, 1976

Syns.

Telotrochidüdae, Telotrochiidae

Stalkless, planktonic, with aboral end of body in advance when swimming; "telotroch" stage permanent (capable of division, etc.); small group of rigid cilia present, separate from (other) oral ciliature and especially distinctive in first genus; cylindrical to bell-shaped body (oral end narrower), with nonstalk-producing scopula at aboral pole and permanent trochal band nearby.

[Jankowski (1967a) mentioned the need for this separate family in listing a name, "Telotrochiidae" (apparently meaning Telotrochidiidae), for it, but offered no description or characterization.]

Opisthonecta Fauré-Fremiet 1906. Few species.
Telotrochidium Kent, 1881 (syn. Telotrichidium). Few species.