The five fingers and five toes bear short, sharp claws. It is an expert climber, using the tail for support and balance. Perhaps the tail also serves as an organ of touch, and it may assist in leaps. On the ground this mammal proceeds in a series of hops, with the tip of the tail inclined upward. It nests in holes in tree trunks or branches or among epiphytes, about 12-20 meters above the ground.
Nests consist of dried leaves, twigs, and fibers of soft wood.
Captives may be fierce at first but usually soon become tame. When annoyed, Ptilocercus emits a hoarse, snarling hiss with the mouth open. A pair observed in captivity carried their tails downward and outstretched, at the same time moving them back and forth like a pendulum. In sleep, the body is rolled up in a tight ball and the tail may be curled so that the plume covers the face. Although Ptilocercus usually occurs in pairs, as many as five individuals have been found in a single nest.