All rights reserved. This document may be used, with this header included, for noncommercial purposes within a subscribed institution . No copies of this work may be distributed electronically outside of the subscribed institution, in whole or in part, without written permission from the JHU Press . Head and body length is about 180 mm, tail length is about the same, and weight is 100-200 grams. The fur resembles that of Chinchilla in being very dense and soft.
Coloration is pearly gray above and white below.
The eyes and external ears are relatively large. The auditory bullae and the tail brush are larger than those of Octodon. There are no apparent modifications for fossorial life. The chozchoz is found in mountains and on the Altiplano. It lives in burrows at the base of cacti and scrubby acacias, in rock crevices, in caves, and in old Indian tombs.