ExploreFish

John Dory

Zeus faber

John Dory is a flat fish with a distinctive shape and a golden color. They are known for their tasty flesh and are quite special!

Habitat: Coastal waters

Appearance

The John Dory is a flattened, disc-shaped fish with an olive-green to golden-brown body. It has a distinctive large black spot, rimmed in gold, on each side. Long, spiky dorsal fins and a large upward-angled mouth make its appearance truly unique.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderZeiformesFamilyZeidaeGenusZeus

John Dory

Interesting facts

Its name might come from the French 'dorée', meaning 'golden', for its shimmering colour!

John Dory is so thin from the front, it almost disappears when facing you!

Legend says the black spot is St. Peter's thumbprint from when he caught one!

They have sharp, strong spines on their dorsal fin that can deliver a painful poke!

Special abilities

John Dory can change its skin color to blend perfectly with its surroundings, which helps them hide from both prey and predators.

John Dory has a super-extensible mouth that shoots out rapidly, helping them vacuum up unsuspecting prey with lightning speed.

John Dory has a large, dark spot on its side that looks like a big eye, which helps confuse predators about its true size and direction.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-65 cm
Weight: 0.5-5 kg
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Swim Speed: 15 km/h
Max Depth: 400 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

This stealthy fish is a carnivore that ambushes smaller fish and invertebrates for its meals.

Primary Foods

sardines
herring
squid
crustaceans

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

European pilchard

Sardina pilchardus

John Dory ambushes smaller schooling fish.

hunts

European squid

Loligo vulgaris

Opportunistically preys on squid when available.

eaten by

Great white shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Juveniles are prey for larger marine predators.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.