Lates niloticus - The Nile perch is a fresh water fish native to several river basins in Africa including the Congo, Nile, and Niger. In Niger it is referred to by its French name, “capitaine.” The Nile perch is one of the largest fresh water fish; it grows to lengths of 2 meters and can weigh up to 200 kilos. Adults are found in deep and shallow water; juveniles prefer shallow levels closer to shore. The diet of the Nile perch includes other fish, even smaller Nile perch, crustaceans, and insects.
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The Ténéré Desert is a region within the Sahara Desert stretching from Northeastern Niger to Western Chad. The area of the Ténéré is 400,000 square kilometers and consists primarily of sand dunes. During the carboniferous period, approximately 358 million years ago, the region had been a thriving forest. An archaeological site in the Ténéré Desert, dated to 5,000 years ago, yielded the remains of animals commonly found in a greener environment than what the area now represents.
