Taxonomy remains unsettled for the small African mouse historically identified by this name. Older accounts described an arid-adapted form with large ears and a white band near the rump, but later work did not confirm M. setzeri in Botswana.
The form historically named Mus setzeri was described as having large ears and a white band of fur near the rump. Its identity remains uncertain in later treatments.
Earlier accounts called the form arid-adapted, but the Botswana study did not collect specimens identified as Mus setzeri. The authors note that taxonomy and geographic records in this mouse group remain unsettled.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.