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Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) — Rhyacichthyidae

Loach goby

Rhyacichthys aspro
Family: Rhyacichthyidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Rhyacichthyidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The loach goby is a remarkable goby relative from the Indo-Pacific, ranging from Indonesia and the Philippines to Taiwan, China and some Japanese islands. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a flattened head with the eyes on top, a streamlined body and greatly enlarged pectoral fins with which it can cling to rocks in fast-flowing hill streams. It is amphidromous and tolerates fresh, brackish and salt water; with its inferior mouth it grazes algae and diatoms. Owing to insufficient data the IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient (DD).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Loach goby?

The Loach goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Flattened head with eyes on top and enlarged pectoral fins to suck itself fast in rapids

Where does the Loach goby live?

The Loach goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Loach goby get?

The Loach goby grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Loach goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Loach goby is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Loach goby edible?

The Loach goby is rarely eaten.

More photos

Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) — Rhyacichthyidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Cheng Te Hsu (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) — Rhyacichthyidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Callum Blacklaw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) — Rhyacichthyidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Shao chien, Kao, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Loach goby (Rhyacichthys aspro) — Rhyacichthyidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) 王弘德, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Loach goby verified
Scientific name
Rhyacichthys aspro
Family
Rhyacichthyidae
Other names
Loach goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae and diatoms inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Amphidromous inhabitant of fast-flowing mountain streams; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Flattened head with eyes on top and enlarged pectoral fins to suck itself fast in rapids sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0
Fin

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