a. and sb. Zool. [f. mod.L. chondropterygii (f. Gr. χόνδρο-ς cartilage + πτερύγιον fin) + -AN.]
A. sb. A member of the order Chondropterygii, fishes having a cartilaginous endo-skeleton, as the shark, ray and sturgeon.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induc. Sc., III. XVI. vii. 369. Fish form two distinct series; that of fish properly so called, and that of chondropterygians or cartilaginous fish.
1861. Couch, Brit. Fishes, I. 3. The Cartilaginous state of the endo-skeleton of Cuvier’s chondropterygians.
B. adj. = next.
1881. Academy, 1 Jan., 11/3. Dr. Günther [adopts] the grouping together of the Ganoid and Chondropterygian fishes into a single sub-class, that of the Palaeichthyes.
