The Chilean rock rat lives among rocky outcrops in the southern Andes. It searches for plants at night and stores food in its burrows.
It has a large head, pointed nose, rounded ears, and short tail. Its back is gray, while its belly is a slightly paler gray.
It feeds at night on grasses and foliage, storing tubers and grains in its burrow. It does not remain dormant through winter.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.