The Ashy Darter is found in the Tennessee River Drainage from the Duck River in west-central Tennessee up to the Clinch River System in northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. These populations are heavily fragmented due to reservoir construction. Ashy Darters live in slow-moving large creeks and rivers in pools along the banks strewn with boulders and woody debris. They have a greatly enlarged second dorsal fin, as well as oblique dusky bars along the side.