This rat is known from Tawi-Tawi Island in the Philippines. Its dark-brown back is speckled with buff, and it has a rusty chest patch. The 2017 account knew of three specimens.
The back is rich dark brown speckled with buff, and the grayish underside is tinged with silver and buff. A rusty chest patch can extend toward the chin or throat. The tail is uniformly dark brown.
The 2017 species account lists dense tropical forest as probable habitat. Terrestrial habits are also presented as probable, not as confirmed observations.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.