Acanthopterygii
- noun
- /ˌækənˈθɒpəˌtɛrɪdʒiːaɪ/
- Specialized
- The Acanthopterygii, which includes species like the tuna and swordfish, are known for their sharp fin spines.
Examples
-
The traditional taxonomic categories of Acanthopterygii and Percomorpha may need to be changed as a result of current phylogeny.
Academic text (2010) -
Many popular aquarium fish belong to the Acanthopterygii group, showcasing a variety of shapes and colors.
-
Fishermen often target Acanthopterygii due to their speed and fighting ability when caught.
Synonyms
A large group of fish with bones and sharp spines in their fins, like perch and tuna
Compounds
- Specialized
A large group of fish with bones and sharp spines in their fins, like perch and tuna
Surface Forms
Morphology
Acanthopterygii = acanth + pteryg + ii
A technical taxonomic formation from Greek combining forms that are not productive or recognizable English morphemes for a B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from the parts.
Etymology
Acanthopterygii comes from Greek parts acantho- meaning 'spine' or 'thorn' and -pterygii meaning 'fin' or 'wing', the same 'ptero' you find in pterodactyl. So, Acanthopterygii literally means 'spiny-finned', which matches this large group of fish that have sharp, bony fin spines.