This species is endemic to springs and streams in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria, between Batna and Constantine.

[2] T. apoda was described in 1853 by Paul Gervais with the type locality given as the Springs of Tell, south of Constantine.

It is the only member of family Aphaniidae which lacks pelvic fins, which leads to the common name.

Tellia apoda has the diet of eating small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, zooplankton, algae, and occasionally plant material is eaten.

Other members of its family are fractional spawners, laying one or more eggs daily during a breeding season that peaks twice.