This soft-furred mouse is associated with Central African lowland forest. A Gabon study identified its hair in samples from forest and caves.
ITIS cites a taxonomy reference describing P. petteri as one of the larger-bodied species in the P. tullbergi group. No coat color is inferred.
Near Lastourville, Gabon, a survey identified seven P. petteri hair samples by DNA: two from forest-floor traps and five from caves. These traces do not establish cave roosting.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.