Traditionally they have been regarded as a separate phylum, but increasingly detailed molecular phylogeny studies between 1997 and 2000 have concluded that phoronids are a sub-group of brachiopods.
Secara tradisional mereka telah dianggap sebagai filum terpisah, namun studi filogeni molekuler semakin rinci antara tahun 1997 dan 2000 telah menyimpulkan bahwa phoronida adalah sub-kelompok brakiopoda.