The skull is delicate and the incisive foramina (openings in the front part of the palate) are short and narrow.

[2] The specific name honors French biologist François Petter, who has contributed to the scientific study of the nesomyines.

[3] In 1998, Carleton and Steven Goodman described a related species, Eliurus grandidieri, from the Northern Highlands of Madagascar.

It is now one of twelve species recognized within Eliurus,[8] the most diverse and widespread genus of the native Malagasy rodents (subfamily Nesomyinae).

The mystacial vibrissae (whiskers on the upper lip) are 50 to 60 mm (2.0 to 2.4 in) long and extend beyond the ears when pressed against the head.

The pinnae (external ears) are dark and appear naked, but are covered by fine brown fur on the outer and by white hairs on the inner surface.

[2] The interorbital region (between the eyes) is narrow and hourglass-shaped, and the braincase is smooth; both lack conspicuously developed ridges and shelves.

The alisphenoid strut (a piece of bone at the back of the skull separating two foramina, or openings) is absent.

[12] Eliurus petteri is known only from a limited area in the foothills of eastern Madagascar (Toamasina Province), where it occurs from 450 to 1,145 m (1,476 to 3,757 ft) above sea level.

[16] Destruction and fragmentation of its habitat are major threats to Eliurus petteri, which is not known to occur in any protected area.