Defn: Of or pertaining to Ganoidei. — n. One of the Ganoidei. Ganoid scale (Zoöl.), one kind of scales of the ganoid fishes, composed of an inner layer of bone, and an outer layer of shining enamel. They are often so arranged as to form a coat of mail.
GANOIDAL
Ga*noid"al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ganoid.
GANOIDEI
Ga*noi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Ganoid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the subclasses of fishes. They have an arterial cone and bulb, spiral intestinal valve, and the optic nerves united by a chiasma. Many of the species are covered with bony plates, or with ganoid scales; others have cycloid scales.
Note: They were numerous, and some of them of large size, in early geological periods; but they are represented by comparatively few living species, most of which inhabit fresh waters, as the bowfin, gar pike, bichir, Ceratodus, paddle fish, and sturgeon.
GANOIDIAN
Ga*noid"i*an, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ganoid.
GANOINE
Ga"no*ine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar bony tissue beneath the enamel of a ganoid scale.