The sturgeon chub is slender, streamlined fish with a long, flat snout. The snout resembles that of a sturgeon, which gives the fish its name. Adults grow to be about in length. There is a small barbel near the corner of the mouth, and small pustules on the throat. The scales on the sturgeon chub's back and sides have a small ridge-like projection known as a "keel". The purpose of the keel is not established, but may help the fish stabilize and orient itself in fast currents or as a means of detecting currents. The eyes are small and it does not see well. The fish's color ranges from silvery-white on the belly to silvery sides, with a light-brown back. The tail is deeply forked, with the lower lobe darker than the upper lobe. The body fins are triangular, slightly rounded, and straight-edged (unlike the sicklefin chub). The last dorsal fin ray extends beyond the first ray of the depressed fin.