Lemniscomys striatus is a small rodent, with the length of the head and the body between 93 and 142 mm, the length of the tail between 92 and 155 mm, the length of the foot between 20.5 and 32 mm, the length of the ears between 14 and 17.5 mm and a weight up to 68 g. The average adult weight is 42.3g.
Its back is blackish-brown, with pale dorsal stripes extended up to the base of the tail and rows of small pale spots on each side of the body. The ventral parts are whitish, with yellowish reflections on the abdomen and chest. Its feet are brownish. Its tail is longer than the head and the body and it is darker above and clearer below. Females have two pairs of pectoral breasts and two inguinal pairs. The karyotype is 2n = 43–44, FN = 58-68-72-74.
This species is native to Central and Western Africa. It is widespread in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DRCongo, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi.
This species lives in deforested areas, grasslands, secondary forest and savanna up to 1,700 meters above sea level.
