Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Nile perch
Lates niloticus
photo by Admassu, D.

 Family:  Latidae (Lates perches)
 Max. size:  200 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 200 kg
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 10 - 60 m, potamodromous
 Distribution:  Africa: widespread throughout the Nilo-Sudan region of Africa, occurring commonly in all major river basins including the Senegal, Niger, Volta, Chad (Ref. 81285) and Nile (Ref. 3636). Found almost everywhere in West Africa, except in Gambia (Ref. 81285). Also present in the Congo basin and lakes Albert, Turkana/Rudolph and Tana (Ref. 3636). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-14. Diagnosis: mouth large and protrusible, lower jaw prominent; numerous villiform teeth present in jaws and on palate (Ref. 81285). Preorbital (Ref. 4967) and preopercle denticulate (Ref. 4967, 81285). A strong opercular spine present (Ref. 4967, 81285). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 4967, 81285). Scales ctenoid, 54-74 along lateral line, followed by 6-8 pored scales on caudal-fin base; ceratobranchial (lower limb) of first gill arch with 12-14 gill rakers (Ref. 81285). Coloration: body uniformly silvery (Ref. 81285) or dark greyish-blue dorsally, greyish-silver on flank and ventrally (Ref. 34290). Fins greyish; interior of eye conspicuously yellowish; juveniles brownish with lighter marbling (Ref. 81285).
 Biology:  Inhabits channels, lakes and irrigation canals. Adults inhabit deep water, while juveniles are found in shallow water. Feeds on fish especially clupeids and Alestes (Ref. 13851); smaller fish also feed on larger crustaceans and insects. Juveniles are planktivorous (Ref. 28714). Threatened due to over harvesting (Ref. 58490). No length type given but assumed to be in TL. Maximum reported size of 180.0 cm corresponding to a weight of 164 kg in Lake Albert (Ref. 81285).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  potential pest
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Musschoot, Tobias - 07.08.15
 Checked by: Capuli, Estelita Emily - 09.08.94

Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.


Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10