Lates angustifrons Boulenger, 1906
Tanganyika lates
photo by de Vos, L.

Family:  Latidae (Lates perches)
Max. size:  200 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 100 kg
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 7.5 - 8.19999980926514; dH range: 20 - 40,
Distribution:  Africa: widely distributed in Lake Tanganyika (Ref. 2216, 36901) and present in the Malagarazi River delta (Ref. 54847).
Diagnosis:  Spacing between dorsal fins more than between last spines of first dorsal fin. Caudal fin rounded in adults, rounded and spotted in juveniles. Eyes small, less than interorbital with.
Biology:  Juveniles live in a specific inshore habitat until they reach 18 cm (Ref. 2216) also found near and in slow flowing affluents (Ref. 36901). Adults found from the littoral to near the limit of the oxygenated zone (Ref. 2216). Solitary, lurking predator, probably favoring rocky bottoms and unspecialized in its fish diet; highly susceptible to intensive fishing (Ref. 2216). Feeds largely on benthic cichlids (Ref. 4967, 36901), but also takes sardines (Ref. 4967). Threatened due to over harvesting (Ref. 58490).
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 31 January 2006 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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 Not for publication.