The white-tailed Ethiopian rat is adapted to open, high-elevation habitats in the Ethiopian Highlands. A comparative study found it to be relatively large, with long ears.
In the 2020 comparison of adult specimens, mean ear length was 2.65 cm, greater than in the other five species. Its tail was shorter than those of the forest-dwelling congeners.
The species is described as adapted to open Afro-alpine habitats. Populations are reported from the Bale and Arsi Mountains and the Guwassa area.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.