acanthodian

English

Alternative forms

• acanthodean

Etymology

From translingual Acanthodii +‎ -ian.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌæk.n̩ˈθoʊ.di.n̩/
• Rhymes: -əʊdiən

Noun

acanthodian (plural acanthodians)

1. (zoology) A member of a group of extinct fish (Acanthodii) that existed from the Silurian to the Permian period.[First attested in the mid 19th century.]
   • 2009 January 15, Martin D. Brazeau, “The braincase and jaws of a Devonian 'acanthodian' and modern gnathostome origins”, Nature Volume 457 No. 7227, doi:10.1038/nature07436:

     The emerging picture of acanthodian (and perhaps placoderm) paraphyly does not overturn a general consensus about gnathostome interrelationships.

Translations

member of a group of extinct fish

• Portuguese: acantódio m

Adjective

acanthodian (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to Acanthodii.[First attested in the mid 19th century.]