acanthopterygian

[ak-uh n-thop-tuh-rij-ee-uh n]

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the Acanthopterygii (Acanthopteri), the group of spiny-finned fishes, including the bass and perch.

noun

an acanthopterygian fish.

Origin of acanthopterygian

1825–35; < New Latin Acanthopterygi(i) (acantho- acantho- + Greek pterýgi(on) small wing, fin + Latin -ī masculine plural ending) + -an

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

Examples from the Web for acanthopterygian

Historical Examples of acanthopterygian

Acanthopterygian, ak-an-thop-tėr-ij′i-an, adj. having spiny fins.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various

British Dictionary definitions for acanthopterygian

acanthopterygian

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Acanthopterygii, a large group of teleost fishes having spiny fin rays. The group includes most saltwater bony fishes

noun

any fish belonging to the Acanthopterygii

Compare malacopterygian

Word Origin for acanthopterygian

C19: from New Latin Acanthopterygii, from acantho- + Greek pterúgion fin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

acanthopterygian in Science

acanthopterygian

[ăk′ən-thŏp′tə-rĭj′ē-ən]

Any of a large group of teleost fishes of the superorder Acanthopterygii, having spiny rays in the dorsal and anal fins and including the bass, perch, mackerel, and swordfish.