Cheiracanthus

Cheiracanthus (from Greek: χείρ kheír, 'hand' and Greek: ἄκανθα akantha, 'spine')^[1] is an extinct genus of a group of fish called Acanthodii (or "spiny sharks").^[2] It was a deep-bodied acanthodian about 12 in. (30 cm) in length. It had a blunt head, upturned tail, and fins protected by spines. Unlike many other acanthodians, it had one, solitary dorsal fin. Cheiracanthus swam at mid-depth in lakes and rivers, seizing small prey in its gaping jaws. Whole fossils of this fish occur only in Mid-Devonian rocks in Scotland, but its distinctive small, ornamented scales crop up around the world, as far south as Antarctica.

Life restoration of Cheiracanthus murchisoni

Cheiracanthus Temporal range: Middle Devonian
Fossil of Cheiracanthus latus at the London Natural History Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	†Acanthodii
Order:	†Acanthodiformes
Family:	†Cheiracanthidae
Genus:	†Cheiracanthus Agassiz, 1835
Type species
† Cheiracanthus murchisoni

See also

• List of acanthodians