acanthodian

[ak-uh n-thoh-dee-uh n]

noun

any small, spiny-finned, sharklike fish of the extinct order Acanthodii, from the Paleozoic Era.

Origin of acanthodian

1850–55; < New Latin Acanthodi(i) plural of acanthodius (equivalent to Acanthod(es) a genus (< Greek akanthṓdēs prickly, spiny; see acanth-, -ode¹) + Latin -ius) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for acanthodian

Historical Examples

There is no evidence that the lateral row of spines in the acanthodian Climatius has any other than a defensive significance.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 3
Various

acanthodian

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}acanthodian

Examples from the Web for acanthodian

Historical Examples

There is no evidence that the lateral row of spines in the acanthodian Climatius has any other than a defensive significance.

Origin of acanthodian