The Cahaba Shiner is only found in two rivers in central Alabama, the Cahaba River and the Locust Fork. This federally endangered species resides in backwaters adjacent to shoals and riffles on the mainstem of these rivers, only occasionally entering the lower reaches of tributaries. This species is found in similar habitats as the common Mimic Shiner (N. volucellus), and they are very difficult to tell apart. Cahaba Shiners have a straight stripe along their side near the caudal fin base and smoky gray scales on the upper side of the tail region, whereas Mimic Shiners have a stripe that expands on the lower edge near the caudal fin base and scales with straw-colored centers on the tail region.