The pelage is crisp and often harsh. The upper parts, grizzled in appearance, are rufescent gray, and the underparts are whitish. The tail is thick, evenly haired, and not crested.
Females have four mammae in a well-developed pouch.
It is nocturnal and constructs grass nests in which it shelters during the day. Nest building, however, may be only a winter activity. Sometimes it shelters in a form, like a hare, among grass tussocks. Although not particularly fast, it is wonderfully agile, adept at dodging, and difficult to approach on foot. On horseback, however, a person may get quite close.