Alternative spelling: Acanthodi
Parent taxon: Chondrichthyes according to C. J. Burrow and D. K. Elliott 2023
See also 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: Bradyodontida, Cladoselachimorpha, Clamydoselachidae, Ctenacanthimorpha, Ctenoptychius ordii, Desmiodontida, Doliodus, Duplisuggestus, Elasmobranchii, Elegestolepis, Eucentrurus, Fasciodus, Geisacanthus, Gladbachus, Gogoselachus, Gracilisuggestus, Holocephali, Holocephalimorpha, Iniopterygia, Kathemacanthidae, Leonotus, Machichnus, Mongolepidida, Obtusacanthus, Plesioselachus, Polymerolepidiformes, Proprigalea, Ptomacanthus, Pucapampellidae, Pucapumpella, Qianodus, Rhinobatiformes, Shenacanthus, Simmorius, Sinacanthida, Subterbranchialia, Thaumatacanthus, Yuanolepis
Subtaxa: Acanthodi Acanthodida Acanthodiformes 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
Ecology: nektonic carnivore