A member of the chinchilla family that lives among rocks, it has a tuft at the end of its long tail. It is most active in the morning and late afternoon and eats plants such as grasses and shrubs.
It has a rounded body, large eyes and long whiskers, and moves among rocks on strong hind legs. A brush-like tuft forms at the end of its tail. Its ears are long and are described as especially long in northern individuals.
It is diurnal, with activity increasing in the morning and late afternoon. It lives in family groups, uses rock crevices for shelter, and eats plants such as grasses and shrubs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.