Swift swimming bottom dwellers

The loach goby is a medium-sized fish living in the tropical, fast-flowing streams in the mountainous regions of Asia. They are typically found throughout China and south Japan and on the islands of the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomons. The loach goby can be found clinging to rocks in these swift streams. They like to hide in rocks, especially when feeling threatened.

Divers can see the loach goby darting swiftly throughout the water while grazing on algae growing on the rocks. This bottom-dwelling fish is identifiable by its flattened head and snout, ventrally placed mouth, sizeable caudal fin, and thick, wide pectoral fins. Explore the map below to find dive sites where loach gobies live.