How does a veliger larva swim and capture food?

The veliger larva, a developmental stage found in many marine mollusks such as snails and bivalves, utilizes a specialized organ called the velum to navigate its environment and obtain nutrients.12

The velum consists of large, ciliated lobes that develop from the ciliary ring of the earlier trochophore stage. These lobes function in two primary ways:12

• Swimming: The rhythmic beating of the cilia on the velum propels the microscopic larva through the water column.23
• Feeding: The velum acts as a mechanism to entrap minute food particles from the surrounding water, which are then directed toward the larva's mouth.23

This organ is essential for the planktotrophic lifestyle of the veliger. As the larva matures, it eventually loses the velum and undergoes metamorphosis into its adult form, during which other structures such as the foot and shell become more prominent.213