[3] Discovered in 2007 in the upper Tennessee River drainage, the sickle darter is around 90.5 mm (3.56 in) in length and is a slender bodied, freshwater and benthopelagic fish that most likely feeds on small crayfish and mayflies, since it shares a large mouth and long snout with its sister species.

[4] It stays in mostly rocky, sandy, or silty substrates in clear creeks or small rivers in the Appalachian Mountains.

This is most likely due to agricultural, municipal, and industrial practices casing siltation and increased turbidity which is a human made enemy of this darter.

Rocky, sandy and silty substrates in clear creeks and small rivers are known homes to the sickle darter where it swims in the water currents.

Because of its small size specific habitat variables such as water velocity and sedimentation measurements are hard to access so no definite numbers can be given as to its abiotic factors.

[8] Known predators are most likely larger piscivores though not many species prey upon the sickle darter due to its place in the water flow.

Due to increased human activity causing turbidity and siltation which the sickle darters are keenly intolerant of, its habitats are steadily decreasing and so are its numbers.

In one female sickle darter that was caught, its mature ova equaled 27% of her body mass and had 355 eggs present.

[10] Silt deposits and increased turbidity from human practices are known to significantly decrease nests by smothering eggs and larvae.

[11] Ongoing research is being done to learn more about the sickle darter but until then no sure fire management plan can be put forth to help maintain steady populations.