The terminal mouth has an oblique angle and has no a barbel. Strongly hooked pharyngeal teeth, with well developed cutting edges, are arranged in a pattern of 1, 4-4, 1. Dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have 8 rays and the pectoral fins contain 12 to 14 rays. The lateral line has 36 scales, but not all have pores. There are scales on the breast in front of the pectoral fins.
Blackchin shiners prefer clear, vegetated water over a sand bottom.
This type of habitat is rapidly disappearing from the Iowa scene. They feed on aquatic insects and cladocera at the water surface. Adults reach 2 to 3 inches in length.