There is a black stripe along the back from the shoulders to the rump. Another black line, rather high up along each side, separates the gray of the back and the brown of the sides, but this stripe does not reach the shoulders or the flanks. The tail is blackish, with the gray-tipped hairs. At the other extreme are forms that lack distinct stripes and have a rich chocolate brown color above that shades gradually to almost white along the middle of the underparts. In most cases the fur coat is not dense and the tail is somewhat flattened.
Females have three pairs of mammae.
Although a few subspecies are found in lowlands, most inhabit mountains from 910 to 1,510 meters in elevation. They are seldom found in trees and construct their nests in fallen logs. It is said that L. hosei frequents the banks of jungle streams. Although L. insignis is widespread and common, L. hosei occupies only a restricted area on Borneo and is extremely rare.