It is distinguished from the rest of Mesoamerican rice mice from its group by a notably lengthy and sharp fox, a trait that gives it a name and that is probably related to its particular form of forage between the leaves of the sotobosque. It lives in the tropical wet rainforest of a strain that goes from southern Mexico to northern South America, and as the rest of species of the so-called "alfaroi group" was moved in 2024 to a genus after a genetic and morphological study that revealed that the group formed an evolutionary lineage well differentiated from other rice mice related.
Small-to-medium-sized rodent, red brown fur, noticeably lengthy and sharp focique compared to other related species, and long tail. It differs from other species of its same group mainly by that longer focique, although field identification remains difficult without capture.
Footprint with 4 front fingers and 5 rear fingers, 1.5-2 cm rear, similar to that of other similar-size sotobosque rodents.
Tropical wet rainforest, with dense subsoil, from low lands to middle mountain ranges. Distributed from southern Mexico to northern South America.
Omnivorous, it feeds on seeds, fruits and insects from the subsoil.
Solitary, of nighttime activity, it travels mainly on the soil of the underground.
Its populations are considered stable in most of its area of distribution.
Deforestation and fragmentation of the rainforest by agricultural and livestock expansion in some areas of its area.
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