Zeidae

Zeidae, commonly known as dories or john dories, is a family of ray-finned fish in the order Zeiformes. They are characterized by their deep, compressed bodies, large mouths, and prominent dorsal spines. The family contains a single extant genus, Zeus, and several extinct genera. Species within Zeidae are found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, typically inhabiting continental shelves and slopes at depths ranging from the surface to several hundred meters.

The most well-known member of the family is the John Dory ( Zeus faber ), which is prized as a food fish in many parts of the world. Dories are predatory fish, feeding primarily on smaller fish and crustaceans. They are often ambush predators, using their large mouths and extensible jaws to quickly engulf prey. Morphologically, Zeidae species exhibit a distinctive lateral line and often possess an ocellus, or eyespot, on their flanks. The family name Zeidae is derived from Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology, likely reflecting the prominent and striking appearance of these fish. Fossil evidence suggests that the Zeidae lineage has a long evolutionary history.