‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; brightness + &unr_; head. ] (Paleon.) A group of fossil amphibians allied to the labyrinthodonts, having the head defended by bony, sculptured plates, as in some ganoid fishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Paleon.) Of or pertaining to the Ganocephala. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; brightness + -oid. ] (Zool.) Of or pertaining to Ganoidei. -- n. One of the Ganoidei. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ganoid scale (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Ganoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Ganoid. ] (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. (Zool.) Ganoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A peculiar bony tissue beneath the enamel of a ganoid scale. [ 1913 Webster ]