The Saffron Shiner is found in the upper Tennessee River Drainage in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as two adjacent Atlantic Coast drainages. They have been introduced into the upper New River drainage in Virginia and North Carolina. They live in bedrock and rocky pools of headwater streams and creeks. As the common name suggests, Saffron Shiners have orange bodies during the breeding season, as well as yellow fins and a gold stripe along their body.