Its remains are known from Callao Cave in the northern part of the island, dating to about 67,000 years ago, with the most recent remains dating from 2,000-4,000 years ago.

"Dakal" means large in many languages of Northern Luzon, including in the Ibanag and Atta lamguages.

[1] C. dakal lived alongside two other species of cloud rats, Crateromys ballik and Batomys cagayanensis, as well as the archaic human Homo luzonensis.

C. dakal went extinct due to human interventions such as hunting and deforestation, as well as the arrival of invasive species to the island.

Due to its big size among cloud rats, hunting it would have been worthwhile.