Details
Lates niloticus
Nile perch is a giant predatory fish of African lakes and rivers that has transformed introduced ecosystems. Its introduction to Lake Victoria drove native cichlid declines and reshaped fisheries.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits large freshwater systems including the Nile basin, Lake Chad, and Congo drainage. Main habitat types in this guide are freshwater.
Typical length 50-200 cm, weight 2 kg-200 kg. A huge mouth, silvery body, and powerful tail mark adults that can become extremely heavy.
It is active in repeated bouts across day and night and usually solitary. It ranges alone through open water and hunts fish and large prey across day and night.
It is carnivorous. Fish dominate the diet, with crustaceans and other aquatic animals also taken.
It releases many eggs in open water, and young fish grow in shallower margins.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Its introduction to Lake Victoria drove native cichlid declines and reshaped fisheries.
