Fish
John Dory
Zeus faber
A deeply compressed, wafer-thin ambush predator bearing a dark ringed spot on each flank and a mouth that shoots forward to engulf prey.
Also known as jandorie
- Habitat
- Reef and open coastal water
The John Dory has a tall, extremely flattened body and an unmistakable blue-black eyespot low on each side. When it closes on prey, its jaws telescope outward into a large tube, sweeping the victim in with startling speed. A ridge of bony bucklers armed with spines runs along the base of the soft dorsal and anal fins.
A slow, solitary drifter, it stalks small fish head-on, presenting its narrow profile until within striking range. It is a fine eating fish and a familiar name on the market.