Although Nile perch are not indigenous to Lake Victoria, they are native to other African lakes, including Lake Albert and Lake Turkana.

The Nile perch is known by many names (language in parentheses):• dzo (Adangme)• am’kal (Arabic)• cal (Dinka)• leshie (Ewe)• giwan ruwa (Hausa)• saalen (Jula)• mputa (Luo)• sangala (Swahili)• igbo (Yoruba)• iji (Turkana)

Nile perch are some of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. Only these fish are consistently larger:• taimen (indigenous to rivers of Mongolia and Russia)• bull sharks (indigenous to coastlines throughout the tropics and subtropics)• arapaima (indigenous to the Amazon River)• alligator gar (indigenous to the southeastern United States)• Mekong giant catfish (indigenous to the Mekong River in Southeast Asia)• giant freshwater stingray (indigenous to Southeast Asia)• white sturgeon (indigenous to North America)• beluga sturgeon (indigenous to the Caspian, Black, and Adriatic Seas)

Female Nile perch are generally larger than males.

Nile perch are carnivores. As fry (juvenile fish) they consume zooplankton, shrimp, clams, snails, and insects. As adults, they prey mostly on other fish. Nile perch can sometimes be cannibals—eating members of their own species.

The wild fishery for Nile perch as been steadily decreasing since 2005. However, fishermen and women still catch more Nile perch than are harvested through aquaculture. In 2012, fishers harvested 278,675 tons of Nile perch, while 15,996 tons were harvested through “fish farms.”