This large spiny rat is associated with limestone karst in northern Vietnam. A survey captured it near rocky forest habitat in Huu Lien Nature Reserve.
Its fur is grayish black, with a small white blaze on the crown and a larger irregular white patch at the center of the chest. The upper base of the tail is dark brown, while its underside and distal portion are pale.
The Huu Lien survey captured it only near rocky forest habitat. The paper associates the species with limestone karst.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.