It is the sole member of the monotypic genus Acrocheilus and is a close relative of the Gila western chubs,[3] and is known to hybridise with Ptychocheilus oregonensis.

The snout is very blunt, with the lower jaw's plate (which consists of cornified epithelium) jutting out slightly.

Many individuals also have a pattern of black dots, and younger fish may have a dark area at the base of the tail.

When the chisel develops (at around 0.6 inches length), they shift to scraping, making short darting movements at the substrate to dislodge whatever is on it, and sucking it in.

Although they consume filamentous algae, it seems to not be digested much despite a long coiled intestine, and their primary food actually consists of diatoms.