This small rodent occurs in Zambia. The studied specimens appear dark gray underneath, although the papers report substantial color variation and overlap with related species. In the Zambian mountains it is recorded in submontane and montane forest.
Ventral hairs have gray bases and white tips, giving the underside a grayish-white effect; the studied H. anselli specimens were classed as dark gray. The paper notes substantial variation and overlap with related species.
The 2015 account describes Zambian mountain ranges that support submontane and montane forest, where H. anselli populations are recorded.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.