Shrewlike rats evolved to be vermivores (worm-eaters) and insectivores feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates associated with leaf litter.

The shrewlike rats, genus Rhynchomys, also known as the tweezer-beaked rats are a group of unusual Old World rats found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

The face is more elongate than that of any other Sulawesi shrew-rat, but similar in this regard to Rhynchomys.

A new species of tweezer-beaked rodent was discovered on a mountain in the northern Philippines in 2005, belonging to the Rhynchomys genus.

In 1895, an expedition was organised which brought to Europe the first specimens of several genera, including Carpomys, Rhynchomys and Crunomys.

Except for Xeromys, Hydromys and related genera ("hydromyines") have a narrow plate, lacking the notch, as does Hyomys, Macruromys, Crunomys, and Rhynchomys.

Jansa et al. (2006) supported this relationship and determined that within this division, Rhynchomys is most closely related to the other Philippine shrew-rats in the genus Archboldomys and Chrotomys.

The shrewlike rats, genus Rhynchomys, also known as the tweezer-beaked rats are a group of unusual Old World rats found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.