The saddleback darter is aptly named as it has 5 saddle-like patterns on its dorsum, with the first occurring near the first dorsal fin and the fifth near the caudal penduncle.

The saddleback darter typically occurs over sand and gravel runs of creeks and small to medium-sized rivers and is sometimes found in very shallow water.

The Wabash River flows through the Corn Belt, a major agricultural area of the United States.

This puts the river at great risk for increased nutrients from fertilizers and siltation from frequent disturbance of the soil.

[4] The saddleback darter typically inhabits large creeks and rivers, but is occasionally found in small streams as well.

[7] The saddleback darter spawns over gravel shoals as early as late winter, though it can continue into April.

Sexual maturity is reached within one year, and following this males are usually slightly larger than females of the same age class.

Building dams to create lakes and hydroelectric power facilities causes a loss of shoal habitat needed for the saddleback darter to spawn.