This rodent is described as endemic to the southern Brazilian Araucaria Forest biogeographic domain. The original paper records it in shrub and herbaceous palustrine systems (wetlands) at São Francisco de Paula.
The 2017 description summary characterizes the back and flanks as tawny, or yellowish brown.
The 2017 distribution account records D. araucaria in shrub and herbaceous palustrine systems at São Francisco de Paula. 'Araucaria Forest' names the biogeographic domain; it is not the sampled habitat. The cited account does not establish specific behavior or diet.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.