PBDB Taxon

Basic info	Taxonomic history	Classification	Included Taxa
Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Acanthodii (spiny fish)

Chondrichthyes

Taxonomy

Acanthodii was named by Owen (1846). It is not extant. It was considered paraphyletic by Burrow and Elliott (2023).

It was reranked as the family Acanthodii by Owen (1859); it was reranked as the unranked clade Acanthodii by Gadow (1898); it was reranked as the order Acanthodii by Hay (1902); it was reranked as the order Acanthodi by Jaekel (1911); it was reranked as the subclass Acanthodii by Miles (1977), Burrow and Elliott (2023).

It was assigned to Lepidoganoidei by Owen (1859); to Pisces by Gadow (1898); to Ichthyotomi by Hay (1902); to Proostea by Jaekel (1911); to Gnathostomata by Dineley and Metcalf (1999); to Chordata by Sepkoski (2002); to Teleostomi by Miles (1977), Long (2011), Nelson et al. (2016); and to Chondrichthyes by Burrow and Elliott (2023).

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

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1846	Acanthodii Owen
1859	Acanthodii Owen p. 123
1898	Acanthodii Gadow p. 6
1902	Acanthodii Hay p. 273
1911	Acanthodi Jaekel p. 72
1977	Acanthodii Miles
1999	Acanthodii Dineley and Metcalf p. 11
2002	Acanthodii Sepkoski
2011	Acanthodii Long p. 242
2016	Acanthodii Nelson et al. p. 95
2023	Acanthodii Burrow and Elliott p. 3

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874

Rank	Name	Author
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
class	Chondrichthyes
subclass	Acanthodii	(Owen 1846)
subclass	Acanthodii	(Owen 1846)

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Subcl. †Acanthodii Owen 1846 [spiny fish]

show all | hide all

Or. †Acanthodiformes Berg 1940

Fm. †Acanthodidae Huxley 1861

G. †Acanthodes Agassiz 1833

†Acanthodes australis Woodward 1906

†Acanthodes beecheri Eastman 1902

†Acanthodes bourbonensis Heidtke 1996

†Acanthodes boyi Heidtke 1993

†Acanthodes bridgei Zidek 1976

†Acanthodes bronni Agassiz 1833

†Acanthodes confusus Heidtke 2011

†Acanthodes gracilis Beyrich 1949

†Acanthodes guizhouensis Wang and Turner 1985

†Acanthodes lopatini Rohon 1889

Invalid names: Homalacanthus bergi Obruchev 1962 [synonym]

†Acanthodes marshi Eastman 1902

†Acanthodes mitchelli Egerton 1861

†Acanthodes nitidus Woodward 1891

†Acanthodes ovensis White 1927

†Acanthodes peachi Egerton 1861

†Acanthodes pollichiae Heidtke 2011

†Acanthodes punctatus Fritsch 1893

†Acanthodes pusillus Agassiz 1844

†Acanthodes pygmaeus Fritsch 1875

†Acanthodes rouvillei Sauvage 1883

†Acanthodes splendidus Heidtke 2011

†Acanthodes sulcatus Agassiz 1835

†Acanthodes ultimus Heidtke 2011

†Acanthodes wardi Egerton 1866

G. †Carycinacanthus Miles 1966

†Carycinacanthus lopatini Rohon 1889

G. †Cheiracanthus Agassiz 1835

†Cheiracanthus brevicostatus Gross 1973

†Cheiracanthus grandispinus Mcoy 1848

†Cheiracanthus latus Egerton 1861

†Cheiracanthus longicostatus Gross 1973

†Cheiracanthus minor Agassiz 1835

†Cheiracanthus murchisoni Agassiz 1835

†Cheiracanthus splendens Gross 1973

G. †Homalacanthus Russell 1951

†Homalacanthus concinnus Russell 1951

G. †Protogonacanthus Miles 1966

†Protogonacanthus juergeni Miles 1966

G. †Pseudacanthodes White and Moy-Thomas 1941

†Pseudacanthodes pinnatus Fritsch 1893

G. †Traquairichthys Whitley 1933

†Traquairichthys pygmaeus Fritsch 1875

G. †Triazeugacanthus Miles 1966

†Triazeugacanthus affinis Whiteaves 1887

G. †Utahacanthus Schultze 1990

†Utahacanthus guntheri Schultze 1990

Fm. †Howittacanthidae Zajıc 1995

G. †Halimacanthodes Burrow et al. 2012

†Halimacanthodes ahlbergi Burrow et al. 2012

G. †Howittacanthus Long 1986

†Howittacanthus kentoni Long 1986

Fm. †Mesacanthidae

G. †Melanoacanthus Cumbaa and Schultze 2002

†Melanoacanthus minutus Cumbaa and Schultze 2002

G. †Mesacanthus Traquair 1888

†Mesacanthus mitchelli Egerton 1861

†Mesacanthus peachi Egerton 1861

†Mesacanthus pusillus Agassiz 1844

†Mesacanthus semistriatus Woodward 1892

Invalid names: Cheiracanthidae [empty]

G. †Antarctonchus White 1968

†Antarctonchus glacialis White 1968

G. †Archaeacanthus Kade 1858

†Archaeacanthus quadrisulcatus Kade 1858

G. †Byssacanthoides Woodward 1921

†Byssacanthoides debenhami Woodward 1921

G. †Campylodus Rohon 1893

†Campylodus delgadoi Priem 1911

†Campylodus sigmoides Rohon 1893

Or. †Climatiiformes Berg 1940

G. †Cassidiceps Gagnier and Wilson 1996

†Cassidiceps vermiculatus Gagnier and Wilson 1996

Fm. †Climatiidae Berg 1940

G. †Brachyacanthus Egerton 1860

†Brachyacanthus scutiger Egerton 1860

G. †Brochoadmones Bernascek and Dineley 1977

†Brochoadmones milesi Bernascek and Dineley 1977

G. †Cheiracanthoides Wells 1944

†Cheiracanthoides comptus Wells 1944

G. †Climatius Agassiz 1845

†Climatius grandis Powrie 1870

†Climatius latispinosus Whiteaves 1881

†Climatius reticulatus Agassiz 1844

†Climatius scutiger Egerton 1860

†Climatius uncinatus Powrie 1864

G. †Erriwacanthus Orvig 1967

†Erriwacanthus falcatus Orvig 1967

†Erriwacanthus manbrookensis Miles 1973

G. †Fecundosquama Valiukevicius 2004

†Fecundosquama basiglobosa Valiukevicius 2004

G. †Nostolepis Pander 1856

†Nostolepis costata Goujet 1976

†Nostolepis gracilis Gross 1947

†Nostolepis halli Blom 1999

†Nostolepis robusta Brotzen 1934

†Nostolepis striata Pander 1856

G. †Sabrinacanthus Miles 1973

†Sabrinacanthus arcuatus Agassiz 1837

G. †Sevyacanthus Burrow 2007

†Sevyacanthus elliotti Burrow 2007

G. †Vernicomacanthus Miles 1973

†Vernicomacanthus uncinatus Powrie 1864

†Vernicomacanthus waynensis Miles 1973

Fm. †Culmacanthidae Long 1983

G. †Culmacanthus Long 1983

†Culmacanthus antarctica Young 1989

†Culmacanthus pambulensis Young 1989

†Culmacanthus stewarti Long 1983

Fm. †Gyracanthidae Woodward 1906

G. †Aganacanthus Traquair 1884

†Aganacanthus striatulus Traquair 1884

G. †Ankylacanthus Burrow et al. 2008

†Ankylacanthus convexus Burrow et al. 2008

†Ankylacanthus incurvus Burrow et al. 2008

G. †Antacanthus Dewalque 1877

†Antacanthus insignis Dewalque 1877

G. †Gyracanthides Woodward 1906

†Gyracanthides hawkinsi TURNER et al. 2005

†Gyracanthides murrayi Woodward 1906

†Gyracanthides riniensis Gess and Burrow 2023

†Gyracanthides warreni White 1968

G. †Gyracanthus Agassiz 1836

†Gyracanthus alleni Newberry 1873

†Gyracanthus alnwicensis Agassiz 1837

†Gyracanthus compressus Newberry 1873

†Gyracanthus convexus Gross 1933

†Gyracanthus cordatus Saint John and Worthen 1883

†Gyracanthus duplicatus Dawson 1868

†Gyracanthus falciformis Traquair 1902

†Gyracanthus formosus Agassiz 1836

†Gyracanthus incurvus Traquair 1890

†Gyracanthus inornatus Newberry 1889

†Gyracanthus magnificus Dawson 1868

†Gyracanthus nobilis Traquair 1883

†Gyracanthus obliquus M'Coy 1848

†Gyracanthus parvulus Bryant 1929

†Gyracanthus primaevus Eastman 1908

†Gyracanthus rectus Traquair 1890

†Gyracanthus rothrocki Wells and Blickle 1943

†Gyracanthus sarlei Hussakof and Bryant 1919

†Gyracanthus sherwoodi Newberry 1889

†Gyracanthus tuberculatus Agassiz 1837

†Gyracanthus youngii Traquair 1883

G. †Mitrodus Owen 1867

G. †Oracanthus Agassiz 1836

†Oracanthus bochumensis Jaekel 1890

†Oracanthus lineatus Newberry 1897

†Oracanthus milleri Agassiz 1836

†Oracanthus minor Agassiz 1836

†Oracanthus multiseriatus Newberry 1857

†Oracanthus obliquus Saint John and Worthen 1875

†Oracanthus pnigeus Newberry and Worthen 1866

†Oracanthus pustulosus Agassiz 1836

†Oracanthus rectus Saint John and Worthen 1883

†Oracanthus triangularis Eastman 1917

†Oracanthus trigonalis Saint John and Worthen 1883

†Oracanthus vetustus Leidy 1855

G. †Hanilepis Wang and Dong 1989

G. †Kathemacanthus Gagnier and Wilson 1996

†Kathemacanthus rosulentus Gagnier and Wilson 1996

G. †Pruemolepis Vieth-Schreiner 1983

Invalid names: Brochoadmonidae [empty]

Or. †Diplacanthiformes Berg 1940

G. †Bryantonchus Burrow 2007

†Bryantonchus peracutus Burrow 2007

G. †Devononchus Gross 1940

†Devononchus concinnus Gross 1940

†Devononchus ketleriensis Gross 1947

†Devononchus laevis Gross 1933

†Devononchus tenuispinus Gross 1933

Fm. †Diplacanthidae Woodward 1891

G. †Diplacanthus Agassiz 1843

†Diplacanthus balticus Gross 1973

†Diplacanthus carinatus Gross 1973

†Diplacanthus crassisimus Duff 1942

†Diplacanthus ellsi Gagnier 1996

†Diplacanthus horridus Woodward 1892

†Diplacanthus longispinus Agassiz 1844

†Diplacanthus striatus Agassiz 1844

†Diplacanthus tenuistriatus Traquair 1894

G. †Florestacanthus Burrow et al. 2003

†Florestacanthus morenoi Burrow et al. 2003

G. †Gladiobranchus Bernascek and Dineley 1977

†Gladiobranchus probaton Bernascek and Dineley 1977

G. †Milesacanthus Young and Burrow 2004

†Milesacanthus antarctica Young and Burrow 2004

Invalid names: Gladiobranchidae [empty]

G. †Eupleurogmus M'Coy 1890

†Eupleurogmus cresswelli M'Coy 1890

Fm. †Euthacanthidae Berg 1940

G. †Euthacanthus Powrie 1864

†Euthacanthus gracilis Powrie 1870

†Euthacanthus macnicoli Powrie 1864

G. †Gemuendolepis Gross 1973

†Gemuendolepis muelleri Gross 1973

G. †Haplacanthus Agassiz 1845

†Haplacanthus ehrmanensis Gross 1940

†Haplacanthus marginalis Agassiz 1845

†Haplacanthus perseensis Gross 1942

G. †Homacanthus Agassiz 1845

†Homacanthus acinaciformis Eastman 1903

†Homacanthus arcuatus Agassiz 1844

†Homacanthus delicatulus Eastman 1903

†Homacanthus elegans Davis 1879

†Homacanthus gracilis Whiteaves 1889

†Homacanthus jaekeli Gross 1933

†Homacanthus macrodus M'Coy 1848

†Homacanthus microdus M'Coy 1848

†Homacanthus parvulus Newverry 1875

†Homacanthus sveteensis Gross 1942

Or. †Ischnacanthida Berg 1940

G. †Atopacanthus Hussakof and Bryant 1918

†Atopacanthus dentatus Hussakof and Bryant 1918

†Atopacanthus juvai Hairapetian and Burrow 2016

†Atopacanthus peculiaris Hussakof and Bryant 1918

G. †Poracanthodes Brotzen 1934

†Poracanthodes menneri Valiukevicius 1992

Or. †Ischnacanthiformes Berg 1940

G. †Acanthospina Valiukevicius 2003

†Acanthospina irregulare Valiukevicius 2003

Fm. †Acritolepidae Valiukevicius and Burrow 2005

G. †Acritolepis Valiukevicius 2003

†Acritolepis urvantsevi Valiukevicius 2003

†Acritolepis ushakovi Valiukevicius 2003

G. †Nerepisacanthus Burrow 2011

†Nerepisacanthus denisoni Burrow 2011

Fm. †Ischnacanthidae Woodward 1891

G. †Acanthodopsis Hancock and Atthey 1868

†Acanthodopsis acuta Wellburn 1902

†Acanthodopsis microdon Traquair 1894

†Acanthodopsis russelli Burrow 2004

†Acanthodopsis summiti Wellburn 1902

†Acanthodopsis wardi Hancock and Atthey 1868

G. †Apateacanthus Woodward 1891

†Apateacanthus dentatus Hussakof and Bryant 1919

†Apateacanthus peculiaris Hussakof 1913

†Apateacanthus vetustus Clarke 1885

G. †Arcticacanthus Valiukevicius 2003

†Arcticacanthus bicostatus Valiukevicius 2003

G. †Cacheacanthus Burrow 2007

†Cacheacanthus utahensis Burrow 2007

G. †Gomphonchus Gross 1971

†Gomphonchus hoppei Gross 1947

†Gomphonchus sandelensis Pander 1856

G. †Helenacanthus Bryant 1934

†Helenacanthus incurvus Bryant 1934

G. †Ictinocephalus Page 1859

G. †Marsdenius Wellburn 1902

†Marsdenius acuta Wellburn 1902

†Marsdenius summiti Wellburn 1902

G. †Persacanthus Janvier 1977

†Persacanthus kermanensis Janvier 1977

G. †Rohonilepis Valiukevicius 2004

†Rohonilepis breviornatus Valiukevicius 2004

G. †Uraniacanthus Miles 1973

†Uraniacanthus curtus Powrie 1870

†Uraniacanthus spinosus Miles 1973

G. †Ischnacanthus Powrie 1864

†Ischnacanthus anglicus White 1961

†Ischnacanthus gracilis Egerton 1861

†Ischnacanthus kingi White 1961

†Ischnacanthus scheii Spjeldnaes 1967

†Ischnacanthus wickhami White 1961

G. †Podoliacanthus Voichyshyn and Szaniawski 2012

†Podoliacanthus zychi Voichyshyn and Szaniawski 2012

Fm. †Poracanthodidae

G. †Acanthopora Valiukevicius 2003

†Acanthopora transitans Valiukevicius 2003

G. †Serradentus Newman et al. 2019

†Serradentus armstrongi Newman et al. 2019

G. †Xylacanthus Orvig 1967

†Xylacanthus grandis Orvig 1967

G. †Latviacanthus Schultze and Zidek 1982

†Latviacanthus ventspilsensis Schultze and Zidek 1982

G. †Lupopsyroides Hanke and Wilson 2004

†Lupopsyroides macracanthus Hanke and Wilson 2004

G. †Lupopsyrus Bernacsek and Dineley 1977

†Lupopsyrus pygmaeus Bernascek and Dineley 1977

Fm. †Machaeracanthidae Burrow and Young 2005

G. †Machaeracanthus Newberry 1857

†Machaeracanthus archiaci Rouault 1858

†Machaeracanthus bohemicus Barrande 1872

†Machaeracanthus kayseri Kegel 1913

†Machaeracanthus larteti Rouault 1858

†Machaeracanthus longaevus Eastman 1907

†Machaeracanthus major Newberry 1857

†Machaeracanthus peracutus Newberry 1857

†Machaeracanthus polonicus Gurich 1901

†Machaeracanthus retusus Wells 1940

†Machaeracanthus sulcatus Newberry 1857

G. †Monopleurodus Pander 1856

†Monopleurodus ohhesaarensis Pander 1856

G. †Neoasiacanthus Wang et al. 1980

G. †Nodacosta Gross 1940

†Nodacosta gemuendensis Gross 1933

†Nodacosta pauli Gross 1940

†Nodocosta denisoni Burrow 2007

G. †Nodonchus White 1961

†Nodonchus bambusifer White 1961

G. †Onchus Agassiz 1837

†Onchus arcuatus Agassiz 1837

†Onchus besomensis White 1961

†Onchus clintoni Claypole 1885

†Onchus granulatus Roemer 1885

†Onchus graptolitarum Fritsch 1907

†Onchus hamatus Agassiz 1837

†Onchus latus Leriche 1931

†Onchus major Etheridge 1872

†Onchus murchisoni Agassiz 1837

†Onchus overathensis Gross 1937

†Onchus penetrans Bryant 1932

†Onchus pennsylvanicus Claypole 1885

†Onchus rarus Liepin'sh 1959

†Onchus rectus Eastman 1899

†Onchus semistriatus Agassiz 1837

†Onchus siluricus Fritsch 1907

†Onchus sublaevis Agassiz 1845

†Onchus tenuistriatus Agassiz 1837

†Onchus verus Schmidt 1954

†Onchus wheathillensis White 1961

G. †Parexus Agassiz 1844

†Parexus falcatus Powrie 1870

†Parexus incurvus Agassiz 1845

†Parexus recurvus Agassiz 1844

G. †Paucicanthus Hanke 2002

†Paucicanthus vanelsti Hanke 2002

G. †Pinnacanthus Bryant 1934

†Pinnacanthus inequistriatus Bryant 1934

G. †Promesacanthus Hanke 2008

†Promesacanthus eppleri Hanke 2008

G. †Ptychodictyon Gross 1973

†Ptychodictyon americanum Burrow 2007

†Ptychodictyon rimosum Gross 1973

†Ptychodictyon sulcatum Gross 1973

G. †Seretolepis Karatajute-Talimaa 1968

G. †Striacanthus Hills 1931

†Striacanthus sicaeformis Hills 1931

G. †Tetanopsyrus Gagnier et al. 1999

†Tetanopsyrus breviacanthias Hanke et al. 2001

†Tetanopsyrus lindoei Gagnier et al. 1999

Fm. †Vesperaliidae Valiukevicius and Burrow 2005

G. †Acanthacanthus Valiukevicius 2003

†Acanthacanthus ornatus Valiukevicius 2003

G. †Yealepis Burrow and Young 1999

Invalid names: Acanthodi Jaekel 1911 [empty], Acanthodida Berg 1940 [empty], Climatiida Berg 1940 [empty], Diplacanthi Jaekel 1911 [empty]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

marinesubp

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

nektonicc

Diet:

carnivorec

Created:

2004-09-24 07:51:17

Modified:

2009-12-13 03:07:42

Source: c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Carroll 1988, Aberhan et al. 2004

Age range: base of the Telychian to the top of the Lopingian or 438.60000 to 251.90200 Ma

Collections (317 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Telychian	438.6 - 432.9	China (Hunan)	Neoasiacanthus wanzhongensis (182545)
Telychian	438.6 - 432.9	China (Xinjiang)	Neoasiacanthus sp. (182524)
Wenlock - Ludlow	432.9 - 422.7	Greenland	Gomphonchus sandelensis, Nostolepis halli (239394)
Wenlock - Ludlow	432.9 - 422.7	Iran	Acanthodii indet. (239389)
Homerian	430.6 - 426.7	China (Sichuan)	Nostolepis tewonensis (182550)
Paadla	426.7 - 423.0	Estonia	Nostolepis striata (13826 13827)
Ludlow	426.7 - 422.7	Russian Federation	Acanthodii indet. (239571)
Ludlow	426.7 - 422.7	United Kingdom	Acanthodii indet. (239076)
Ludlow	426.7 - 422.7	Canada (Northwest Territories)	Nostolepis sp. (534)
Ludlow	426.7 - 422.7	Australia (Queensland)	Gomphonchus turnerae (232518)
Youngest occurrences
Time interval	Ma	Country or state	PBDB collection number
Asselian	298.9 - 293.52	Czechia (Krkonose)	Acanthodes sp., Acanthodes gracilis (232614)
Asselian - Sakmarian	298.9 - 290.1	France	Acanthodes sp. (34797)
Wolfcampian	298.9 - 286.0	USA (New Mexico)	Acanthodes sp. (181077)
Cisuralian	298.9 - 274.4	France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)	Acanthodes bourbonensis (197929)
Permian	298.9 - 251.902	USA (Oklahoma)	Acanthodes sp. (221392)
Sakmarian	293.52 - 290.1	USA (Kansas)	Acanthodes sp. (130816 130817)
Sakmarian	293.52 - 290.1	Germany (Rhineland-Pfalz)	Acanthodes ultimus (180563)
Sakmarian	293.52 - 290.1	France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)	Acanthodes sp. (197925)
Urzhumian - Early/Lower Severodvinian	266.9 - 259.51	Russian Federation (Tatarstan)	Onchus sp. (27931)
Lopingian	259.51 - 251.902	Greenland	Acanthodii indet. (122143)