forktail lates

{{Short description|Species of ray-finned fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Lates microlepis.jpg

| status = EN

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Ntakimazi, G. |date=2006 |title=Lates microlepis |volume=2006 |page=e.T60837A12416878 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60837A12416878.en |access-date=14 November 2021}}

| taxon = Lates microlepis

| authority = Boulenger, 1898

}}

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 {{convert|93|cm|in}} TL and the greatest reported weight of this species is {{convert|8.3|kg|lb}}. It is a commercially important species and is also popular as a game fish.{{FishBase |genus= Lates|species= microlepis| month = December | year = 2013}}