The brown dorcopsis is a wallaby of New Guinea forests. A field study in West Papua also recorded its use of riverbank grassland.
The nominate form has brown back fur with one or two hair whorls around the shoulders. Its underside is white or light brown; some individuals have a white forehead spot.
In a study of the Nuni Watershed in northern West Papua, riverbank grassland was mainly used for feeding and also for shelter and drinking. Trails and food remains attributed to two individuals were recorded.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.