[2][3] The Niangua darter is a slender, silvery-brown fish with about ten vertical dark bars with brown centers alternating with orange undulating lines.

[5] Adult Niangua darters move from pools and slow runs to gravel riffles prior to spawning.

[7] Niangua darters live in clear upland creeks and small to medium-sized rivers with slight to moderate currents.

The Niangua darter has declined in numbers during the last 30 years, primarily due to habitat loss from reservoir construction, and stream channelization.

Land clearing and increased amounts of sediment and nutrients have also caused declines in Niangua Darter populations.