Having spines or thorns; prickly or spiny in nature.
From Greek 'akantha' (thorn) + '-ous' (full of). This botanical and zoological adjective describes any organism with thornlike protrusions.
Plants and animals use spines for protection, and this single Greek root 'akantha' appears in hundreds of scientific names—from acanthus plants to spiny anteaters (Acanthoglossus).
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