It was described by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1858 and given the binomial name Hypnocmenis schistacea.

[5][6][7] A 2013 study finalized its move to genus Myrmelastes, and because that name is masculine, the change of its specific name to schistaceus.

Females have a dark chestnut crown with thin rufous streaks.

It forages as individuals, pairs, and small family groups and mostly within about 1 m (3 ft) of the ground and only rarely with mixed-species feeding flocks.

The slate-colored antbird's song has been described as "a simple series of penetrating but semimusical notes, 'peeyr-peeyr-peeyr-peeyr-peeyr' "[10] and "a slow, accelerating, rising series of clear whistles: heew hew-hew-hew-hew, rarely with a buzzy terminal note"[11].

[5][9][10][11] "As is true of all species that occupy forested habitats, Slate-colored Antbird is vulnerable to habitat loss or degradation; this species may be particularly vulnerable, as it is suspected to avoid second growth or forests that have been subjected to disturbance, such as from logging operations.