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The John Dory
John Dory - Zeus faber
Oval shaped, deep, compressed body. Has characteristic long rays on the dorsal fin
and the ocellar marking on the sides, which make it easy to pick it out. Golden-grey
with dark shading. Lives close to sandy or muddy bottoms from 20-30 metres deep
to 400 metres. Maximum size 60 centimetres.
John Dory, also known as St Pierre, refers to fish of the genus Zeus,
especially Zeus faber, of widespread distribution. It is an edible deep-sea fish
with a laterally compressed olive-yellow body which has a large dark spot, and
long spines on the dorsal fin. The dark spot is used to flash an 'evil eye' if
danger approaches the John Dory.
Various explanations are given of the origin of the name. It may be an arbitrary
or jocular variation of dory (itself from the French dor�e, gilded), or perhaps
an allusion to John Dory, the hero of an old ballad. Others suggest that "John"
derives from the French jaune, yellow. The novel An Antarctic Mystery by Jules
Verne gives another account, which has some popularity but is probably fanciful:
"The legendary etymology of this piscatorial designation is Janitore, the
"door-keeper," in allusion to St. Peter, who brought a fish said to be of that
species, to our Lord at His command." (St. Peter is said to be keeper of the gates
of Heaven.) A related legend says that the dark spot on the fish's flank is
St. Peter's thumbprint.
 John Dory |
