What role does mucus play in cephalochordate feeding?

In cephalochordates, mucus is essential to the process of suspension feeding. The endostyle, a glandular organ located on the floor of the pharynx, secretes a continuous sheet of mucus.12

As water is drawn into the mouth by the beating action of cilia, this mucus sheet moves upward along the gill slits, effectively trapping small food particles suspended in the water current. Once the food is captured, the mucus is rolled into a cord and transported to the intestine for digestion and absorption. This mechanism allows these marine invertebrates to efficiently filter nutrients from their environment.123