This Ethiopian rodent is currently known from a limited forest area in the southwest and can be distinguished from a close relative.
It resembles S. albipes but is described as having a slightly narrower space between the eyes and a longer snout.
It is treated as a forest species and is known from wet montane Chingawa Forest. It has not been reconfirmed at its former type locality after forest loss.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.