The Gilt Darter has a disjunct distribution in the Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Lake Erie drainages, including the Tennessee and Cumberland river drainages. They live in rocky riffles and runs of creeks to medium rivers. As the common name suggests, breeding male Gilt Darters have bright amber-orange coloration along their lower head and belly. While most darters are found on stream bottoms, members of the genus Percina tend to be found higher in the water column because they retain a swim bladder.