The generic name means "next to Cheiromys" because the scientist who saw the bones mistakenly thought that the animal was a primate with hands like those of the lemurs from genus Daubentonia, whose synonym is Cheiromys.

It had long claws and a narrow head similar in shape to that of an armadillo or an anteater (though it was actually related to the modern pangolins).

The shape of its claws suggests that it probably dug through the soil in search of food, most likely small invertebrates.

[4] Metacheiromys and its relatives, including the enigmatic Ernanodon, constitute the order Palaeanodonta, thought to be the sister taxon of pangolins.

[5] The phylogenetic relationships of genus Metacheiromys is shown in the following cladogram:[6][7][5] Pan-Carnivora Pholidota (sensu stricto) †Escavadodontidae †Melaniella †Amelotabes †Epoicotherium †Molaetherium †Xenocranium †Epoicotheriinae†Tetrapassalus †Dipassalus †Alocodontulum †Auroratherium †Pentapassalus †Tubulodon †Arcticanodon †Propalaeanodontinae †Mylanodon †Brachianodon †Palaeanodon †Metacheiromyinae †Metacheiromys dasypus †Metacheiromys marshi †Ernanodontidae