The ruddy darter is to be found in temperate regions throughout Europe[2] as far east as Siberia and as far south as the northern Sahara.

[1] It is present in the following countries: Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uzbekistan.

[1] This species tends to prefer quiet bodies of water that feature semiaquatic vegetation[1] such as rushes and reeds.

[3] The head, thorax and abdomen of the mature male are vivid red, while the female is slightly smaller, and is a golden-yellow colour with black markings.

The spotted darter (Sympetrum depressiusculum) with all-black legs has noticeably more clubbed abdomen and brighter pterostigmata.