acanthodian

American  

[ak-uhn-thoh-dee-uhn] / ˌæk ənˈθoʊ di ən /

noun

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

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Etymology

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-, -ode ¹