Lates

The generic name Lates derives from the Latin latēre (to be hidden). ==Description==

These fishes range in size from less than in maximum overall length, the largest species reaching weights up to . 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==

, 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. ==Taxonomy==

Extant species Currently, 11 recognized species are placed in this genus: • Lates angustifrons Boulenger, 1906 (Tanganyika lates) • Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) (barramundi) • Lates japonicus Katayama & Y. Taki, 1984 (Japanese lates) (Japanese barramundi) • 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 Extinct species within this genus include: • Lates arambourgi Stewart & Murray, 2008 - Pliocene/Pleistocene of Ethiopia • Lates bispinosus Gaudant & Sen, 1979 - Neogene of Turkey • ?Lates croaticus Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1902 - Miocene of Croatia • ?Lates gregarius Bannikov, 1992 - late Miocene of Moldova • ?Lates macropterus Bassani, 1889 - Oligocene of Italy • ?Lates karungae Greenwood, 1951 - Miocene of Kenya • Lates odessanus Kovalchuk, Otero, Barkaszi, Murray & Divay, 2023 - latest Miocene of Ukraine • Lates partschi Heckel, 1856 - mid-Miocene of Austria • Lates qatraniensis Murray & Attia 2004 - Early Oligocene of Egypt Extinct species within this genus lived from the early Oligocene epoch to the present. Prehistoric Lates appear to have had significant species diversity in the marine basins of the Mediterranean and Paratethys, but appear to have been significantly affected by salinity fluctuations, leading to their eventual extinction. In the present day, the only surviving Lates in this region is the Nile perch, L. niloticus, in estuarine habitats in North Africa. ==References==