Genus Zenopsis Gill, 1862
Two species; Z. nebulosus (Temminck & Schlegel) from
Japan and Australia has 0 VIII-IX,27-29; 12-14 dorsal
bucklers and 8 or 9 along base of A.
Buckler dory
138.3 Zenopsis conchifer
(Lowe, 1850)
Beukelaar-dorie
Zeus conchifer Lowe, 1850: 247 (Madeira). Zenopsis ocellatus:
Schnakenbeck, 1931: 29'. Zenopsis conchifer: Smith, SFSA No. 269;
Heemstra, 1980: 11'.
D IX-X,24-26; A III,24-26; P 12; V 1,5; ii+2,vi. Depth 1.7-1.9, head
2.5-2.7 in SL; eye 4.1-4.6 in head. Scales absent; 7 large bucklers along D
bases, 5 or 6 along base of A; 2 rows of7 or 8 keeled scutes, each ending in
a small spine, between V and A; 2 bucklers in front of V. One or 2 rows of
small teeth on jaws and a few on vomer.
Body silvery, with a dusky midlateral spot just posterior
to, and slightly above, end of P. Attains 80 cm. Walvis Bay
to Natal and north to Kenya in 90 - 360 m; eastern Atlantic,
and off North and South America.
138.3 Zenopsis conchifer: 14 em SL (off Natal).
Genus Zeus Linnaeus, 1758
Two species; both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Blue-black ocellus below LL at tip of P; 5-8 large
bucklers, each with 1 or 2 spines, along base of
soft D & A ............................. Zeus faber
Ib Black spot (sometimes indistinct) surrounded by
several smaller silver spots, on or above LL and
below anterior soft Drays; 9-13 spines along
base of soft D & A . . .................... Zeus capensis
138: ZEIDAE (DORIES)
Cape dory
138.4 Zeus capensis
Valenciennes, 1835
Kaapse dorie
Zeus capensis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1835: 23 (Cape of Good
Hope); Barnard, 1925: 373'; Heemstra, 1980: 9*. Zeus faber (non
Linnaeus) : Smith, SFSA No. 270*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 118'.
D IX-X122-24; A IV/20-22; P 13-14; V 1,6; GR rudimentary (4-5)+
(13-18) . Depth 1.5-2.1, head 2.2-2.8 in SL; eye 2.8-4.1 and 2nd D spine
2.0-2.9 in head. Scales rudimentary, not imbricate; 10-12 broad-based
spines along each side of soft Dbase; 9-13 spines along base of A (not
counting those on bases of A spines); 2 rows of7-1O spiny scutes from A
origin to V bases.
Head and body silvery grey; indistinct dusky spot on or
above LL and below front of soft D. Attains 90 cm. St.
Helena Bay to Natal in 35 - 200 m; endemic to this region.
138.4 Zeus capensis: 17.5 em SL (off Algoa Bay).
John Dory
138.5 Zeus faber
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 17
Jandorie
Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758: 267 ("Habitat in Pe/ago"); Heemstra, 1980:
8*. Zeus japonicus: Smith, SFSA No. 271*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 118*.
D IX-XII22-24; A IV/20-23; P 13-14; V 1,6-7; GR rudimentary (4-5)+
(7-11). Depth 1.6-2.1, head 2.3-2.8 in SL; eye 3.4-6.7 in head; 2nd D spine
1.2-1.4 in head. Scales rudimentary, not imbricate; 5-8 large bucklers
along base of soft D and A; 2 rows of 7-10 spiny scutes from V to A.
Narrow band of minute canines on jaws and vomer.
Attains 60 cm. An excellent food-fish. Common along
our whole coast, and north to Kenya in 60 - 360 m; Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa,
Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
437
Two species; Z. nebulosus (Temminck & Schlegel) from
Japan and Australia has 0 VIII-IX,27-29; 12-14 dorsal
bucklers and 8 or 9 along base of A.
Buckler dory
138.3 Zenopsis conchifer
(Lowe, 1850)
Beukelaar-dorie
Zeus conchifer Lowe, 1850: 247 (Madeira). Zenopsis ocellatus:
Schnakenbeck, 1931: 29'. Zenopsis conchifer: Smith, SFSA No. 269;
Heemstra, 1980: 11'.
D IX-X,24-26; A III,24-26; P 12; V 1,5; ii+2,vi. Depth 1.7-1.9, head
2.5-2.7 in SL; eye 4.1-4.6 in head. Scales absent; 7 large bucklers along D
bases, 5 or 6 along base of A; 2 rows of7 or 8 keeled scutes, each ending in
a small spine, between V and A; 2 bucklers in front of V. One or 2 rows of
small teeth on jaws and a few on vomer.
Body silvery, with a dusky midlateral spot just posterior
to, and slightly above, end of P. Attains 80 cm. Walvis Bay
to Natal and north to Kenya in 90 - 360 m; eastern Atlantic,
and off North and South America.
138.3 Zenopsis conchifer: 14 em SL (off Natal).
Genus Zeus Linnaeus, 1758
Two species; both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Blue-black ocellus below LL at tip of P; 5-8 large
bucklers, each with 1 or 2 spines, along base of
soft D & A ............................. Zeus faber
Ib Black spot (sometimes indistinct) surrounded by
several smaller silver spots, on or above LL and
below anterior soft Drays; 9-13 spines along
base of soft D & A . . .................... Zeus capensis
138: ZEIDAE (DORIES)
Cape dory
138.4 Zeus capensis
Valenciennes, 1835
Kaapse dorie
Zeus capensis Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1835: 23 (Cape of Good
Hope); Barnard, 1925: 373'; Heemstra, 1980: 9*. Zeus faber (non
Linnaeus) : Smith, SFSA No. 270*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 118'.
D IX-X122-24; A IV/20-22; P 13-14; V 1,6; GR rudimentary (4-5)+
(13-18) . Depth 1.5-2.1, head 2.2-2.8 in SL; eye 2.8-4.1 and 2nd D spine
2.0-2.9 in head. Scales rudimentary, not imbricate; 10-12 broad-based
spines along each side of soft Dbase; 9-13 spines along base of A (not
counting those on bases of A spines); 2 rows of7-1O spiny scutes from A
origin to V bases.
Head and body silvery grey; indistinct dusky spot on or
above LL and below front of soft D. Attains 90 cm. St.
Helena Bay to Natal in 35 - 200 m; endemic to this region.
138.4 Zeus capensis: 17.5 em SL (off Algoa Bay).
John Dory
138.5 Zeus faber
Linnaeus, 1758
PLATE 17
Jandorie
Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758: 267 ("Habitat in Pe/ago"); Heemstra, 1980:
8*. Zeus japonicus: Smith, SFSA No. 271*; Smith & Smith, 1966: 118*.
D IX-XII22-24; A IV/20-23; P 13-14; V 1,6-7; GR rudimentary (4-5)+
(7-11). Depth 1.6-2.1, head 2.3-2.8 in SL; eye 3.4-6.7 in head; 2nd D spine
1.2-1.4 in head. Scales rudimentary, not imbricate; 5-8 large bucklers
along base of soft D and A; 2 rows of 7-10 spiny scutes from V to A.
Narrow band of minute canines on jaws and vomer.
Attains 60 cm. An excellent food-fish. Common along
our whole coast, and north to Kenya in 60 - 360 m; Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic from Norway to South Africa,
Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
437