Common names:
Nile perch
None

Taxonomic tree
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
Order: Perciformes (perch-like)
Family: Latidae (Lates perches)
Genus: Lates
Species: Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Number of Occurrancies: 1461

Synonyms: click here to view synonyms

Type locality: 

Lake Albert. Syntypes at British Museum of Natural History (BMNH)

General identification features 

-Two nostrils on each side of the head 

-Contineous lateral line

-Head and body covered by relatively small scales

Distinguishing characters for the genus

-Small ctenoid scales

-Small villiform teeth in the jaws and on the vomer, palatines and ectopterygoids (bones forming part of the roof of the mouth)

-Pre-orbital and pre-opercular bones armed with spines; a large spine on the free edge of the operculum

-Dorsal fin almost completely divided into two parts by a deep notch; the anterior part comprisng 7-8 spines and the posterior part one spine and 10-14 branched rays

Distinguishing characte for the species

-Relatively deeper and somewhat compressed body (length/depth ratio of caudal peduncle 1.33-1.66)

-Colour is variable depending on the habitat: generally dorsum dark greyish-blue, flank and ventral side greyish-silver

Special remarks:This species closely resembles Lates macrophthalmus, except that L. macrophthalmus has relatively narrower body and caudal peduncle (length/depth ratio of caudal peduncle 1.5-2) and is restricted to open/deep waters of Lake Albert. 

Distribution in Uganda

In Uganda, the species naturally occurs in Lake Albert, Albert and Murchison Niles, but has been introduced in Lake Victoria and Kyoga basins 

Occurence

Native/Introduced

Habitat

Demersal; present in both shallow and deeper waters.  

Feeding

Food and feeding related to size (Kishe-Machumu et al. 2012). Adults are principally piscivorus, feeding on other fishes, including own young. Juveniles also take in macro-inverterbrates (especially the prawn Caridina nilotica).    

Biology

The species can grow to different sizes, mature at different rates and alter their fecundity depending on environment, level of stress from fishing and habitat changes (Njiru et al. 2007). Sizes reaching 200 cm total length have been reported in lakes where the species has been introduced (Ogutu-Ohwayo 1988). Reproduction takes place throughout the year, peaking during rainy season. Size at maturity is variable and depends on sex; in Lake Victoria, length at 50% maturity ranges between 52-54 cm TL for males and 58-62 cm TL for females (Njiru et al. 2007). Fecundity ranges between 3 and 15 million eggs (Ogutu-Ohwayo 1988). The fish fish can also attain growth increament of up to 28 cm in one year.  

Economic importance/End use

L. niloticus is the most important commercial fish species in capture fisheries in Uganda. In Lake Victoria (Ugandan part), for instance, annual catches of Nile perch are worth $194 million from 

the direct sales at the landing sites (NaFIRRI 2014, unpublished data). 

IUCN conservation status: click here to view IUCN status

Threats

Fishing, habitat degradation

Main references

Greenwood PH. 1966. The fishes of Uganda. The Uganda Society, Kampala. 131 pages.

Ogutu-Ohwayo, 1988. Reproductive potential of the Nile perch, Lates niloticus L. and establishment of the species in lakes Kyoga and Victoria (East Africa). Hydrobiologia 162, 193-200.

Njiru M., Nzungi P., Getabu A., Wakwabi E., Othina A., Jembe T. et al. (2007) Are fisheries management measures in Lake Victoria successful? The case of Nile perch and Nile tilapia fishery. African Journal of Ecology 45, 315–323.

Kishe-Machumu, M., Witte, F., Wanink, J., Katunzi, F., 2012. The diet of Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.) after resurgence of haplochromine cichlids in the Mwanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Hydrobiol. 682, 111–119.