Alternative spelling: Acanthodi
Parent taxon: Gnathostomata according to R. Van Der Laan 2019
See also Burrow and Elliott 2023, Dineley and Metcalf 1999, Gadow 1898, Hay 1902, Jaekel 1911, Long 2011, Miles 1977, Nelson et al. 2016, Owen 1859 and Sepkoski 2002
Sister taxa: Chondrichthiomorphi, Chondrichthyes, Eugnathostomata, Ichthyes, Janusiscus, Minjinia, Osteichthyes, Placodermi, Placodermiomorphi, Plectrodus, Qilinyu, Ramirosuarezia, Xiushanosteus
Subtaxa: Acanthodi Acanthodida Acanthodiformes Acanthoessidae Antarctonchus Archaeacanthus Byssacanthoides Campylodus Climatiida Climatiiformes Diplacanthi Diplacanthiformes Eupleurogmus Euthacanthidae Gemuendolepis Haplacanthus Homacanthus Ischnacanthida Ischnacanthiformes Latviacanthus Lupopsyroides Lupopsyrus Machaeracanthidae Monopleurodus Neoasiacanthus Nodacosta Nodonchus Onchus Parexus Paucicanthus Pinnacanthus Promesacanthus Ptychodictyon Seretolepis Striacanthus Tetanopsyrus Vesperaliidae Yealepis