acanthodian

[ ak-uhn-thoh-dee-uhn ]

/ ˌæk ənˈθoʊ di ən /

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noun

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

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Origin of acanthodian

First recorded in 1850–55; from New Latin Acanthodi(i), plural of acanthodius (equivalent to Acanthod(es), a genus name (from Greek akanthṓdēs “prickly, spiny”) + Latin -ius ) + -an;see acantho-, -ode¹

Words nearby acanthodian

acanthite, acantho-, acanthocephalan, acanthocyte, acanthocytosis, acanthodian, acanthoid, acanthology, acanthopterygian, acanthous, acanthus

How to use acanthodian in a sentence

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