The ribbon sawtail fish, Idiacanthus fasciola, is a barbeled dragonfish of the family Stomiidae, found around the world at depths over between latitudes 40ð N and 54ð S. Length is up to in general for the female, and for the male (generally between 81 and 85 vertebrae). The males of this species are developed to a lesser degree, as usual for Idiacanthus. While female specimen have a dark brown to black colour, males are usually of a lighter colour between dark brown to pale. The larval form, which has eyes on periscopic stalks, was originally identified under the invalid name Stylophthalmus paradoxus. Its diet is carnivorous, praying on living and dead fish or meat.
Ethymology: Greek: edia = own, private + akantha: spine, thorn + Lat: fasciola ribbon, band