The species was first described to the United States National Museum by Professors Jordan and Gilbert in the Big Pigeon River.

[2] The mountain madtom has a body that is characterized as being robust, and by the toxic sting that is associated with their pectoral and dorsal spines.

[2] Currently, the Pigeon River Recovery Project is working to try to restore the mountain madtom population that was lost in fisheries.

The mountain madtom is found in fast-flowing clear riffles that are shallow generally headwater streams.

In all cases the mountain madtom is a nocturnal feeder and hides under large flat rocks during the day time.

[8] Human actions such as dam building can hurt mountain madtoms because they prefer fast flowing water.

[6] Adult mountain madtoms range from 75–127 mm in length and the life span averages 4–5 years.

In the study the nest was found in a moderately flowing stream, in a clean swept gravel substrate under a rock, 20m above a riffle.

Nothing has ever been noted to prey on the mountain madtom, due to its venomous sting and spines, so predation is not a problem for it either.