Acanthodes

Acanthodes is an extinct genus of spiny shark. Fossils have been found in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Compared with other spiny sharks, Acanthodes was relatively relatively large, at 30 cm long. The genus had no teeth, instead having tooth-like spikes on its gills. Because of this, it is presumed to have been a filter feeder, filtering plankton from the water.

It also had fewer spines than many of its relatives. Each of the paired pectoral and pelvic fins had a spine, as did the single anal and dorsal fins, giving it a total of just six, less than half that of many other species.