This rodent occurs in southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and parts of the Sunda Islands. Its coat includes stiff, spine-like hairs, and a Borneo study found nests made of leaves and plant fibers on branches.
The dense upper fur ranges from orange to reddish brown and is mixed with black guard hairs; the underparts are white to cream buff. The regional account reports mass of 50–105 g.
Of 6 nests recorded in northern Borneo, 2 were subterranean, 2 lay beneath dense clusters of logs and branches, and 2 stood 1–1.5 m above ground. Elevated nests included structures of plant fibers or leaves fixed to branches.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.