Aethomys ineptus (Thomas and Wroughton, 1908), commonly called the Tete veld rat, is a medium-sized rodent with a long, sparsely haired tail and spermatozoa with spatulate-shaped heads (unique for all muroid rodents thus far examined). A. ineptus co-occurs with its sibling species, A. chrysophilus, and in areas of co-occurrence, an examination of spermatozoa, diploid number, allozymes, or mitochondrial DNA is required to distinguish the 2. Previous work described as many as 11 species of Aethomys, but recent evidence indicates a need for taxonomic revision of the genus. Endemic to Africa, A. ineptus prefers habitats where there is substantial cover in the form of shrubs, rocks, and herbaceous vegetation. It is not of special conservation concern.