This small rodent is known for white, grooved spines on its rump and a tufted tail. At night it carries seeds in its cheek pouches and stores them in burrows.
The back is brownish gray, the underside yellowish white, and a brown line runs along the side. Grooved white spines cover the rump, and the tail has a tuft at its tip.
It is usually solitary and nocturnal, resting in a burrow by day. It gathers seeds in external cheek pouches and carries them to the burrow for storage.
IUCN Red List · Least Concern (LC) · Global