It occurs over sandy bottoms and among aquatic vegetation such as Sparganium americanum, foraging among the plants and organic debris for insect larvae and small invertebrates.

The gulf darter is known for its laterally compressed, robust body, small, conical head, slightly joined gill membranes and a wide frenum on its upper lip.

The gulf darter generally inhabits small- to moderate-sized creeks, and occurs over a sand or sandy mud bottom, often in association with aquatic vegetation or a layer of organic debris.

[4] In most creeks, the microhabitat of the gulf darter is characterized by moderate to heavy amounts of aquatic vegetation, primarily Sparganium americanum.

In the smallest creeks, however, the gulf darter may occasionally be found in shallow, swift riffles formed by logs, rocks or vegetation.

The Gulf darter was first formally described in 1877 by the American biologist David Starr Jordan (1851–1931) with the type locality given as a tributary of the Pearl River at Monticello In Lawrence County, Mississippi.

For instance, one study found the development of an interstate negatively affected the abundance of several fish species, including the gulf darter, by decreasing quality of water of the nearby creek.