Based on type material and additional specimens, the revision of the genus
Acanthicolepis presented here comprises all species considered as valid by Hartman (1959, 1965), i.e.
A. asperrima (M. Sars, 1861),
A. equitis (Mclntosh, 1885), and
A. cousteaui Laubier, 1961.
Acanthicolepis asperrima occurs in the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, while
A. equitis is reported exclusively from the northeast Atlantic and
A. cousteaui is only known from the Mediterranean Sea. According to our observations, only
Acanthicolepis asperrima is considered to be valid, with
A. cousteaui being its junior synonym, and
A. equitis a doubtful species. The species
Acanthicolepis asperrima is redescribed and all important characters are figured.