 Gordon and Layzer reported that the species appears to be most abundant in flats, which were described by Gordon as shallow pool areas lacking the bottom contour development of typical pools, with sand and scattered cobble/boulder material, relatively shallow depths, and slow (almost imperceptible) currents.They also report the species from swifter currents and in areas with mud, sand, and gravel substrates.Gordon and Layzer summarized the reproductive biology and identified fish hosts of the Cumberland elktoe.