ANIMAL SPECIES:John Dory, Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758
The John Dory is a distinctively compressed, silvery fish with a black 'thumbprint' on the side of the body. The common name, St Peter's fish, refers to the biblical story in which Peter brings a fish to Jesus.
Alternative Names/s
One of the common names for this species is the St Peter's fish.Identification
The John Dory has a highly compressed head and body. It has a large oblique mouth and bucklers on the second dorsal and anal fin bases.
The species is dark brown as juveniles and silvery as adults. There is a large dark grey blotch ringed with white on the side of the body.
Size range
It grows to 66 cm in length.Distribution
The species is known from temperate marine waters of the Eastern Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it occurs in depths of 1 m to 150 m from southern Queensland, around the south of the country and north to the central coast of Western Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of John Dory specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Living with us
Economic/social impacts
It is a highly regarded table fish and fetches high market prices.
Classification
- Species:
- faber
- Genus:
- Zeus
- Family:
- Zeidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Bray, D.J. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Whitley, G.P. 1966. Marine Fishes of Australia. Vol. 1. Jackaranda Press. Pp. 142.
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John Dory, Zeus faber View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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