acanthopteri
n. C2 Proficiency acan·thopteri
n. a group of extinct fish that lived in the ocean millions of years ago. They had a unique body shape and were related to modern sharks and rays.
n. an extinct order of marine fish characterized by a flattened body and a unique skeletal structure. Often referred to as 'spiny sharks' due to their distinctive dorsal spines.
Scientists study the fossils of acanthopteri to understand ancient marine life.
The discovery of acanthopteri remains in the deep-sea trench provided new evidence about the evolution of early cartilaginous fish.
While acanthopteri are no longer present in the modern ocean, their skeletal adaptations offer a critical link in the evolutionary history of modern sharks and rays.