N. mitchellii is a bipedal rodent with large back legs, similar to a jerboa or kangaroo rat.

The species is currently considered to be unthreatened, but its range has been reduced through habitat disturbance and destruction associated with European settlement in Australia.

N. mitchellii is known to have a lifespan of up to five years in the laboratory and this is thought to be a strategy evolved to combat the breeding-constraints of lengthy periods of drought.

Victorian Wildlife Regulations 2013 - Schedule 4B Species are commonly kept by large numbers of the general public.

A license is required to obtain and, sell these species for commercial purposes as a safe guard against take from the wild.