This rail is known only from New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago. It inhabits damp forest and valleys and feeds on snails, insects, and other foods.
It is about 33 cm long, with a dark brown head and upperparts and blackish underparts finely barred with white. The tail is very short, the legs pinkish, and the bill black.
It uses damp forest, mountain valleys, and swampy cane grass. It feeds on snails, insects, and vegetable matter and is sometimes seen in groups.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.