Nesomys rufus is a ground-dwelling rodent reported across humid forests of Madagascar. Its reddish back, white-spotted underside, and white tail tip help distinguish it.
Its back is reddish brown and its underside is marked with white spots; the chin and throat are white. The reddish tail ends in a tuft of white hairs.
It mainly eats seeds and fallen fruits, searching through leaf litter near the ground. The thesis reports field observations at Maromizaha and cites feeding records from another locality.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.