The emerald shiner is an inhabitant of large interior streams and Great Border Rivers in Iowa, where it is abundant. Distribution is widespread, but it is most prevalent in the Cedar, Des Moines, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers.
Smaller streams have emerald shiner populations, but they are usually rare in fish collections.
It has been introduced as a forage fish into Rathbun Reservoir. Emerald shiner has an elliptical body shape and they are slab-sided. They appear fragile and delicate, but in truth it is a hardy minnow. Their mouth is large, terminal, oblique, and has no barbel. The transparent dorsal fin contains 8 rays, and it is located distinctly behind the insertion of the pelvic fins.