Like other members of the family, Petrodromus is beautiful. The fur is rather long and soft. White and chestnut red markings are usually present about the eyes. The underparts are white or ochraceous. There are three upper incisors on each side, and the upper canine is not large.
Females have four mammae.
Although sometimes found in rocky districts, this elephant shrew seems to prefer thickets and the undergrowth of forests. It has much the same habits as the smaller species of the family. It is mainly diurnal and makes runways through brush and grass. Its mode of progression when not alarmed is a scurrying walk, but when disturbed it progresses by fairly long jumps. It runs with its tail pointed upward.