[2] The greenfin darter is a benthic insectivore, feeding mainly on insect larvae in cold, high-elevation creeks and rivers.

A study by Bryant et al. revealed the diet of the greenfin darter may be the most diverse in the genus, with some individuals' guts containing up to 15 different species of insects.

Like many other darter species, the greenfin has adapted morphologically to reduce drag and allow stationary positioning on the substrate even in the midst of fast-flowing riffles.

[6] However, the species is found and protected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Southern Appalachian Biosphere reserve.

A close relative, E. camurum, has seen huge population declines due to anthropogenic environmental disturbances, and is listed as critically imperiled in several states.