acanthodian

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

/ ˌæk ənˈθoʊ di ən /

noun

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

Nearby words

acanthocephalan, acanthocephaliasis, acanthocheilonema, acanthocyte, acanthocytosis, acanthodian, acanthoid, acanthology, acantholysis, acanthoma, acanthopterygian

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

Examples from the Web for 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