Zool. [Shortened f. mod.L. elasmobranchii, f. Gr. ἐλασμό-ς metal beaten out, metal-plate + βράγχ-ια gills.] An individual of the Elasmobranchii or Chondropterygii, a class of fishes marked by the cartilaginous nature of the bones, and the absence of sutures in the cranium, as the Shark, Sturgeon, Ray, etc. Also attrib. or adj.
1872. Mivart, Elem. Anat., 38. The neural arches may be made up of two separate pieces on each side, as in Elasmobranch fishes.
1878. Bell, trans. Gegenbaur’s Comp. Anat., Pref. p. xi. Two pairs of fins, such as we find in the Elasmobranchs.
1881. Nature, XXV. 61. Mr. F. M. Balfour’s … work on the development of the elasmobranch fishes.
1887. Sci. Amer., 26 Feb., 130/2. The true fishes form one class, the elasmobranchs, sharks and rays, another class.
