It is known from the Ypresian to the Lutetian of Europe and eastern North America.

[2] It is alternatively classified in either the Percichthyidae (which otherwise contains only species from South America and Australia) or in the Centropomidae (represented by modern snooks).

[8] As its name suggests, C. gigas was a large fish that could reach up to 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) in length.

[7] It likely inhabited brackish waters close to river mouths.

[9] It has been alleged that Louis Agassiz struggled with excavating the type specimen of C. spinosum, despite continuously studying it.