These specimens belonged to a single species Scolomys melanops, and for a long time the genus was considered to be monotypic.

However, following survey work in the upper Amazon basin many decades later, a further species S. ucayalensis was described from northern Peru by Pacheco in 1991, followed by a third, S. juruaense from western Brazil by Patton and da Silva in 1994.

In 2004, Gomez-Laverde and co-workers reviewed the systematics of the genus and its distribution, and suggested that S. juruaense was not sufficiently distinct from S. ucayalensis to warrant being classified as a separate species.

The dorsal pelage is a mixture of slender hairs with reddish or blackish tips, and stouter, flattened spines gradually darkening towards the end.

The hind feet are broad and short, with hairy heels and naked soles, with five or six pads.