Forktail Lates

Caudal fin emarginate in juveniles.

May breed in areas with plants (Ref. 205). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Oviparous (Ref. 205).

Young live inshore areas after leaving weed cover. Adults occupy mainly pelagic zones to which they are recruited with maturity at about 50 cm TL. Moves from place to place (up to 10 km per day) and tends to concentrate to the abundance of its main prey (Ref. 52862). In Zambian waters, species are abundant during rainy season, between November and May. Immature fish are rarely caught by pelagic fisheries and are conditioned to stay near shore, where they are commonly caught (Ref. 52862).

Juveniles live in a specific inshore habitat until they reach 18 cm, thereafter it lives in the superficial pelagic zone; exclusively pelagic predator, feeding on clupeids and to a lesser extent on Luciolates; highly susceptible to intensive fishing (Ref. 2216). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Juveniles often found near river mouths, but not in the rivers (Ref. 36901). Also caught using handlines (Ref. 4967).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

The forktail lates (Lates microlepis) is a species of lates perch endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Juveniles inhabit inshore habitats, moving as adults to open-water pelagic zones where it preys on other fishes. This species can reach a length of 93 centimetres (37 in) TL and the greatest reported weight of this species is 8.3 kilograms (18 lb). It is a commercially important species and is also popular as a game fish.