Cyclopoma
Cyclopoma is an extinct genus of marine percomorph fish from the Eocene. It is known from the Ypresian to the Lutetian of Europe and eastern North America.
It is alternatively classified in either the Percichthyidae or in the Centropomidae.
The following species are known:
- †C. folmeri Weems, 1999 - Ypresian of Virginia, USA
- †C. gigas Agassiz, 1833 - Ypresian of Monte Bolca, Italy
- †C. spinosum Agassiz, 1833 - Ypresian of Monte Bolca, Italy
As its name suggests, C. gigas was a large fish that could reach up to in length. It likely inhabited brackish waters close to river mouths.
It has been alleged that Louis Agassiz struggled with excavating the type specimen of C. spinosum, despite continuously studying it. For two nights, he dreamed of the specimen appearing fully restored, and on the third night, sketched his vision of the restored specimen while half-awake. When he continued preparing the fossil specimen the following day, the fully excavated specimen was allegedly found to be exactly as he had dreamed and sketched.