Lates - Barramundies

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.

All species are predatory, and the Nile perch (L. niloticus), in particular, has become infamous as an invasive species introduced into the East African Lake Victoria, where many native cichlids now are extinct. In contrast to the Nile perch, several members of the genus Lates with relatively restricted African or Asian distributions are themselves considered threatened.

These fishes range in size from less than 30 to 200 cm (1 to 7 ft) in maximum overall length, the largest species reaching weights up to 200 kg (440 lb). They all have the characteristic centropomid shape, with the two-part dorsal fin and general percoid form.

All species are carnivorous, preying on aquatic invertebrates and other fish in a wide variety of habitats.

Distribution and habitat

The greatest species diversity is in the Rift Valley lakes, with four endemic to Tanganyika (L. angustifrons shown), one to Albert and one to Turkana
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 in Africa.

Species
Currently, 11 recognized species are placed in this genus:

1. Lates angustifrons Boulenger, 1906 (Tanganyika lates)
2. Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) (barramundi)
3. Lates japonicus Katayama & Y. Taki, 1984 (Japanese lates) (Japanese barramundi)
4. Lates lakdiva Pethiyagoda & A. C. Gill, 2012
5. Lates longispinis Worthington, 1932 (Rudolf lates)
6. Lates macrophthalmus Worthington, 1929 (Albert lates)
7. Lates mariae Steindachner, 1909 (bigeye lates)
8. Lates microlepis Boulenger, 1898 (forktail lates)
9. Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nile perch)
10. Lates stappersii (Boulenger, 1914) (sleek lates)
11. Lates uwisara Pethiyagoda & A. C. Gill, 2012