▁is ▁fl atten ed ▁vert ically , ▁with ▁a ▁sn out ▁and ▁small ▁eyes . ▁The ▁mouth ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁unders ide ▁and ▁has ▁a ▁f les hy ▁upper ▁lip . ▁The ▁body ▁is ▁later ally ▁com pressed ▁toward ▁the ▁slightly ▁for ked ▁tail ; ▁it ▁has ▁a ▁well - develop ed ▁later al ▁line ▁system . ▁The ▁pel vic ▁fins ▁are ▁separate , ▁with ▁en larg ed ▁mus cul ature . ▁In ▁colour , ▁it ▁is ▁light ▁brown , ▁with ▁dark er , ▁longitud inal ▁stri pes ▁on ▁its ▁fl anks . ▁Also , ▁dark ▁stri pes ▁occur ▁on ▁the ▁d ors al , ▁ca ud al , ▁and ▁p ector al ▁fins . ▁ ▁Distribution ▁and ▁habitat ▁The ▁lo ach ▁g oby ▁lives ▁in ▁tropical ▁waters ▁between ▁ 2 4 ° N ▁and ▁ 1 3 ° S , ▁r anging ▁from ▁China ▁and ▁south ▁Japan , ▁through ▁the ▁Philippines ▁and ▁Indones ia , ▁to ▁New ▁Guinea ▁and ▁the ▁Sol om ons . ▁It ▁inhab its ▁fast - flow ing ▁streams ▁in ▁mountain ous ▁terrain . ▁ ▁Hab its ▁The ▁lo ach ▁g oby ▁normally ▁cl ings ▁to ▁rocks ▁in ▁fast - flow ing ▁streams , ▁using ▁the ▁rocks ▁as ▁hiding ▁places ▁when ▁threatened . ▁It ▁makes ▁swift ▁d art ing ▁movements . ▁It ▁e ats ▁the ▁alg ae ▁growing ▁on ▁the ▁rock ▁surfaces . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Fish base ▁ ▁Category : R hy ac ich thy idae ▁Category : F ish ▁described ▁in ▁ 1 8