Topeka shiners are found most often in the upper Des Moines and Raccoon rivers with a few scattered populations in the northwest and east-central streams. This shiner is quite common in field collections. The Topeka shiner has a stout body form that is only slightly compressed. The back is straw colored, and the scales are edged with pigment, while the sides are silvery, and the belly is silvery-white. A prominent dusky lateral band terminates at the base of the caudal fin with a distinct, though small, dark wedge-shaped spot.
Nuptial males have bright red or orange fins on the lower sides.
A terminal mouth is small and oblique and no barbel is present. Pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a 4-4 pattern. The anal fin contains 7 rays, and the lateral line has about 35 scales. Adults reach about 3 inches in length. This species spawns from late June to August.