John Dory
Zeus faber
- Scientific name
- Zeus faber
- Group
- Reef fish
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean, Temperate Atlantic / English Channel
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The John Dory carries a dark spot ringed in pale color on each side of its body, which legend attributes to the apostle Peter's thumbprint. Its extremely flattened body makes it almost invisible head-on, a handy trick for sneaking up on prey unseen.
What defines this group — Reef fish
The bony fish that live against coral and rock: the living backdrop of almost every dive.
- A bony skeleton, scales, and a rigid gill cover closing over the gills.
- A swim bladder acts as a float: they hold their depth without swimming.
- Many change colour, pattern — sometimes even sex — over the course of their life.
Other species in this group
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Blue tang
- Red lionfish
- Spot-fin porcupinefish
- Mediterranean moray
- Clark's anemonefish