PORT PHILLIP BAY


John Dory 

Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: X, 21-24
Anal fin spines/rays: IV-V, 20-25
Caudal fin rays: 13
Pectoral fin rays: 12-15
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 6-7
Lateral line: about 100

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
The order Zeiformes is a small order of marine fishes found in all oceans, and most are deep-bodied, highly compressed fishes, with large heads, large highly protrusible mouths and large eyes located near the dorsal profile. Many have elongate dorsal-fin spines, often with filamentous tips, and some have a row of enlarged scales or spiny scutes at the dorsal and anal-fn bases, or along the belly. Dories and their allies live near the bottom on the continental slope often around seamounts, to depths of more than 1000 m. Two species enter bays and harbours. Many species are commercially important.

Family level detail.
Members of the family Zeidae are very compressed deep-bodied fishes with large heads with large protrusible mouths. Body scales are either small or absent except for lateral line scales. Dories have large bony bucklers at the bases of the dorsal and anal fins an dalong the ventral surface. Species are commmercially important.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Zeiformes
Suborder:
Zeioidei
Family:
Zeidae
Genus:
Zeus
Species:
faber

General Description

Body deep, very compressed, with small, embedded cycloid scales; dorsal-fin spines with long filamentous membrranes; large bony bucklers along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. Silvery to olive brown often with darker, wavy lines and distinct ocellus on the side. To 66 cm.

Biology

Commercially important throughout its range and a highly regarded food fish.

Habitat

Around rocky reefs and over sand, in depths of 1-240 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Eastern Atlantic, western Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes Dories

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

66 cm

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, John Dory, Zeus faber, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 05 Jul 2020, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6527

Text:
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