The Russet Batomys was described from Dinagat Island in the Philippines. The original paper reports three specimens collected in lowland tropical evergreen rainforest.
The original description distinguishes it as a medium-sized, reddish species with broad feet.
The 1998 description reports three specimens from lowland evergreen rainforest on Dinagat. The small sample does not show which other habitats the species may use.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.