The blacknose shiner was once found in scattered locations in streams throughout the upper two-thirds of Iowa. Most recent collections were confined to several small streams in Clay, Dickinson, and Osceola counties.
Current records list the blacknose shiner as endangered.
Body form of blacknose shiners is slender with only slight lateral compression. Color of the body is olive-yellow on the back, silvery sides, and whitish belly. A distinctive character is the conspicuous lateral band with vertical black crescents, which does not extend onto the chin. Scales on the back are outlined with dark pigment, giving a cross-hatched appearance. The sub-terminal mouth has a slight oblique angle but does not have a barbel.