The bluntnose darter was first formally described by the American Oliver Perry Hay (1846–1930) with the type locality given as the Cullasaja River at Macon County, North Carolina.

[3] The generic name Etheostoma derives from Greek etheo, "to strain", and stoma, "mouth".

Its color is light yellow or olive dorsally with either dark brown or black spots or uneven dense lines.

[6] The area in front of the eyes consists of continuous black bars around the snout.

[7] The species is found in swamps, floodplain lakes, sloughs, and low-gradient creeks, often over substrates of mud, clay or detritus.

Spawning occurs at different times of year throughout the range; in Texas, a spawning period from early January to late March has been observed,[6] April in Kansas, and March and April in Louisiana.

[5] Males court females in displays that include of posing while quivering with upright fins.