Distribution of the flathead chub is restricted in Iowa to the Missouri River drainage, where it is found in the Nodaway, Nishnabotna, Boyer, Soldier, Little Sioux, and lower reaches of the Big Sioux rivers. This cyprinid ranges throughout the Missouri River drainage of the Great Plains states and northward into the Yukon Territory.

Flathead chubs have a body form, which is adapted for life in strong currents. The most distinctive characters are their strongly depressed head and large sickle-shaped pectoral fins. A large, sub-terminal mouth has a barbel at the corner of the jaw. Pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a pattern of 2, 4-4, 2. The dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins contain 8 rays, while the pectoral fins contain from 16 to 19 rays. The lower lobe of the caudal fin is usually darker than the upper lobe. A complete lateral line contains from 48 to 57 scales. These chubs are straw to brown colored on the back, shading to silver on the sides and belly.

This chub species is found in large schools over shallow, sandy bars in the smaller tributary streams. They can survive quite well in turbid water, which historically characterized the Missouri River. This minnow is quite active when feeding on aquatic insects and young fish. Little is known about their spawning habits, but they are believed to be summer spawners. Adults reach 10 inches in length after 4 years of life.

*Mayhew, J. (editor). 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.