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. 2019

Examples from the Web for acanthodian

Historical Examples of acanthodian

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