The pacarana is a large rodent of Andean rainforest slopes and valleys from Colombia to Bolivia, with conspicuous pale markings on its back and flanks.
Its upper fur is dark brown to blackish, with two broken white stripes along the back and rows of white spots on each side. It also has long gray whiskers.
Life in the wild is poorly known. Captive observations describe mainly nocturnal activity, a mostly terrestrial life, and individuals usually alone or in pairs. Reported foods include fruits, leaves, and stems.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.