The large New Guinea spiny rat is a large spiny rat native to the northern lowlands of New Guinea. Records from other islands may reflect prehistoric human introductions.
Its coat is described as coarse and spiny, with long black guard hairs. The back is brown with reddish hair tips; the underside is gray to ivory and the chest is often white.
Females are reported to raise litters in burrows, and breeding is reported throughout the year. The account also notes burrowing, without treating shared habitat comparisons among three large rats as unique to this species.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.