Lates
| Lates Temporal range: Eocene - Recent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nile Perch (L. niloticus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Latidae |
| Genus: | Lates G. Cuvier, 1828 |
| Type species | |
| Perca nilotica Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lates is a genus of lates perches belonging to the family Latidae. The generic name is also used as a common name, lates, for many of the species.[3]
The Nile perch has become infamous as an invasive species in the east African Lake Victoria, where many native cichlids now are extinct. In contrast to the Nile perch, several smaller members of the genus Lates with relatively restricted African distributions are themselves considered threatened.
Etymology
The generic name Lates derives from the Latin latēre (to be hidden).
Description
These fishes range in size from less than 30 cm (12 in) to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in maximum overall length, the largest species reaching weights of up to 200 kg (440 lb). They all have the characteristic centropomid shape, with the two-part dorsal fin and general percoid form.
Inhabiting a variety of habitats, the Lates species are generally carnivorous, feeding on invertebrates and other fish.
Distribution and habitat
These fishes are native to freshwater and marine waters of Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Several species are endemic to the Rift Valley lakes.
Species
There are currently 11 recognized species in this genus:[3]
- Lates angustifrons Boulenger, 1906 (Tanganyika lates)
- Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) (Barramundi)
- Lates japonicus Katayama & Y. Taki, 1984 (Japanese lates)
- Lates lakdiva Pethiyagoda & A. C. Gill, 2012
- Lates longispinis Worthington, 1932 (Rudolf lates)
- Lates macrophthalmus Worthington, 1929 (Albert lates)
- Lates mariae Steindachner, 1909 (Bigeye lates)
- Lates microlepis Boulenger, 1898 (Forktail lates)
- Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nile perch)
- Lates stappersii (Boulenger, 1914) (Sleek lates)
- Lates uwisara Pethiyagoda & A. C. Gill, 2012
Extinct species
Species within this genus include:[1]
- Lates gibbus Agassiz 1833
- Lates gracilis Agassiz 1833
- Lates macrurus Agassiz 1833
- Lates noteus Agassiz 1833
- Lates qatraniensis Murray and Attia 2004
Extinct species within this genus lived from the Eocene epoch to Recent, approximately from 37.2 to 0.0 million years ago. Fossils have been found in Africa (Libya, Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Chad, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Sudan), in Saudi Arabia and in Slovakia.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Fossilworks
- ↑ Murray,A.M., Attia,Y.S. A new species of Lates (Teleostei: Perciformes) from the Lower Oligocene of Egypt, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2004, 24(2):299–308
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). Species of Lates in FishBase. October 2013 version.