This small rodent lives in foothill and lower montane forests in northern New Guinea.
The fur is grayish black, with occasional white flecks on the underside. The tail is about 101–111% of head-and-body length.
Specimens have been captured in traps, including a record from secondary forest at Wanuma.
The tail ends in a short white tip occupying less than one-quarter of its length.
The front surface of each upper incisor has a distinct lengthwise groove.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.