Nile perch

fish

Also known as: Lates niloticus

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Nile perch, (species Lates niloticus), large food and game fish of the family Centropomidae (order Perciformes), found in the Nile and other rivers and lakes of Africa. A large-mouthed fish, the Nile perch is greenish or brownish above and silvery below and grows to about 1.8 m (6 feet) and 140 kg (300 pounds). It has an elongated body, a protruding lower jaw, a rounded tail, and two dorsal fins.

In 1954, L. niloticus was introduced into Lake Victoria in Africa, home to hundreds of cichlid fishes. A powerful predator, the Nile perch has greatly reduced the cichlid numbers.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.