The Slenderhead Darter is found in the central United States in the Mississippi and Ohio river drainages from Oklahoma to Ohio, including the Tennessee and Cumberland river drainages. They live over rocky substrate in fast water of small to medium rivers. As the common name suggests, Slenderhead Darters have a long, pointed snout. 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.