It has a long tail and a dark stripe along the middle of its back. It lives in steppe and shrub habitats and hibernates for much of the year.
A solid black stripe runs along the back, while the underside is white. The long tail is usually brown above and pale below. Lowland animals are pale yellow-brown; montane animals are more reddish or rusty.
It is mainly active at dusk and at night, but may be active by day when it is cold or food is scarce. It hibernates for about seven to eight months each year, sometimes longer in montane populations.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.