# 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! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal waters - **Also known as:** Dory, St. Peter's Fish ![John Dory](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/ec5558fd82c478d5ca4d498c3ec99172106993532f4f56fc209d62d97fc2e248/image-560x560/w-560.webp) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Zeiformes - **Family:** Zeidae - **Genus:** Zeus ## 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 - **Invisible Hunter:** John Dory can change its skin color to blend perfectly with its surroundings, which helps them hide from both prey and predators. - **Super Snatch Mouth:** John Dory has a super-extensible mouth that shoots out rapidly, helping them vacuum up unsuspecting prey with lightning speed. - **Tricky Target Spot:** 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 - **Maximum 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Juveniles are prey for larger marine predators. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify John Dory? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is John Dory? 10-65 cm ### How much does John Dory weigh? 0.5-5 kg ### How long does John Dory live? 10-12 years ### What does John Dory eat? This stealthy fish is a carnivore that ambushes smaller fish and invertebrates for its meals. ### How fast can John Dory swim? 15 km/h ### Where is John Dory usually found? Coastal waters ### How does John Dory hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [John Dory: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/john-dory)