It is endemic to the United States where it is found in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado, and Oklahoma.

The Arkansas darter has an olive-brown dorsal surface spotted with fine black markings, and a yellowish-white underside except that in males during the breeding season, the belly turns bright orange.

[3] The Arkansas darter moves up and down stream by as much as several kilometers in accordance with varying water flows.

The eggs are laid in shallow water on gravel bottoms in open areas or among organic debris accumulations.

[1] It has a limited distribution and threats to this species include the lowering of the water level in streams resulting from groundwater pumping in the western part of its range, and potential development pressures in the eastern part.