John Dory

The John Dory grows to a maximum size of 90 cm (35 in) and a maximum weight of 8 kg (18 lb), though more typically 65 cm (26 in) for females, and 45 cm (18 in) for males. It has 9 to 11 long spines on its dorsal fin and 4 spines on its anal fin. It has microscopic, sharp scales that run around the body. The fish is yellowish-brown to olive green with a paler greyish belly, and has a dark spot on its side. Its eyes are near the top of its head. It has a flat, round body shape and is a poor swimmer.

John Dory are benthopelagic coastal fish, found in the Mediterranean Sea and the northeast Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of northern Africa and southern and western Europe north to Norway, though scarce north of Ireland and southern England. It also occurs in the seas off Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and the coasts of Japan. They live near the seabed, living in depths from 5 to 360 metres (20 to 1,180 ft). They are normally solitary. John Dory are more commonly found in the waters of the North Island of New Zealand than the colder waters surrounding the South Island.

In New Zealand, Māori know it as kuparu, and on the East Coast of the North Island, they gave some to Captain James Cook on his first voyage to New Zealand in 1769. Several casks of them were pickled.

Cookery writer Eliza Acton in her 1845 book Modern Cookery for Private Families observed that John Dory "though of uninviting appearance, is considered by some persons as the most delicious fish that appears at table". She recommends simply baking it "very gently", to avoid drying it out in the oven.

John Dory is a popular choice among professional chefs due to the versatility of the fish, though access to home cooks is limited; the bycatch fish is not typically sold at supermarkets.

The "dory" or "dori" sold in certain fish markets, such as those of Indonesia, are more likely to be fillets of various shark catfish species (such as Pangasius) and not of the John Dory.

When John Dories are three or four years of age, they are ready to reproduce. They lay pelagic eggs, which become part of the plankton. Typical lifespan is about 12 years in the wild.

The name dory is attested from 1440, derived from the French dorée 'gilded', a French name for the fish. The addition of "John" appears in 1609, and probably comes from a 17th-century song about a sea captain, John Dory. Etymologies claiming it comes from the French jaune dorée (meaning "golden yellow") which sounds like 'John Dory' in English, or the Italian gianitore 'janitor' are now rejected.

The name genus name Zeus comes from the Latin zaeus, from the Greek ζαίος (zaiós) which refers directly to this species. According to Sven O. Kullander zaeus has no relation with the name of the king of gods in Greek mythology. However, other authors dispute this, pointing to the fish's earlier name of Piscis jovii ("fish of Jove"), who was equated with Zeus.