This shiner is at the northern extent of its range in Iowa, but occurs from Ohio to Kansas and south into Texas and Louisiana. The ghost shiner has been found only in the Mississippi River in Iowa, where it is considered rare.
Ghost shiners have a fragile, delicate body form, which is strongly compressed laterally.
A small patch of pigment can be found in front of the dorsal fin insertion, and the scales along the back may have faint dusky outlines. The subterminal mouth is nearly horizontal and has no barbel. Pharyngeal teeth are arranged in the 4-4 formula. Lateral line scales are excessively elevated, being much higher than wide, and range in number from 30 to 35. The dorsal fin, long and falcate shaped, anal, and pelvic fins contain 8 rays, and the pectoral fins usually contains 13 rays.