Etheostoma blennioides, the Greensides Darter, is comprised of 4 recognized sub-species; E.b. blennioides, E.b. newmanii, E.b. pholidotum, and E.b. gustelli. Etheostoma blennioides gustelli occurs in the Little Tennessee drainage, from the Cheoah River upstream, and in a few tributaries of the Pigeon River. Etheostoma blennioides newmanii is found in the Tennessee, Cumberland, and White River systems. Etheostoma blennioides pholidotum resides in the north flowing rivers of the northern Ozarks as well as the Wabash basin of Indiana and Illinois, the Maumee drainage of Ohio and Michigan, and along the southern shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The type sub-species is found in the Ohio River basin above the Louisville falls. The Greensides Darter lives in a variety of habitats but prefers riffles in creeks and small rivers. Etheostoma blennioides can also be found in shallow bedrock pools with steady flow and low turbidity. At one time this species was found around the islands of western Lake Erie, and is still found along the sandy beaches of Lake St. Claire. Clearly, E. blennioides exhibits higher tolerance for habitat diversity, and a greater dispersal ability than members of the variatum group. These characteristics reduce the possibility of vicariant speciation and enhance chances of range expansion. In addition, since E. blennioides tends to inhabit smaller waterways than members of the variatum group, it is more likely to be transported to one drainage from another by stream capture.

Broadly connected gill membranes, expansive pectoral fins, frenum, complete lateral line, complete infraorbital and supratemporal canals, and 6 branchiostegal rays mark E. blennioides as a member of the sub-genus Etheostoma. Greensides Darters differ from other members of the sub-genus Etheostoma in that Greensides Darters have a fleshy union between the upper jaw and the preorbital portion of the head as well as a terminal nipple on the snout in most populations. E. blennioides is a large darter reaching a size of more than 127 millimeters standard length in some cases. Five to seven saddles of varying intensity mark the back, but are restricted to the dorsum. Lateral line counts are: 53 to 60 in E. b. gutselli, 53 to 68 in E. b. pholidotum, 58 to 72 in E. b. blennioides, and 63 to 84 in E. b. newmanii. Eleven to 16 spines and 11 to 16 rays are found in the dorsal fin. The anal fin has 2 spines and 6 to 10 rays; the pectoral fin has 13 to 17 rays. Greensides darters are yellow-green with a pale belly; males become brilliant green during the mating season. Breeding tubercles are flat pads which extend from the caudal peduncle to the posterior midline of the belly. Many breeding males lack tubercles.

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