The length of the tail is approximately the same as the head and body in all species. The pelage is soft and thick over the entire body, but it appears loose and uneven because of the different textures of the hairs. Coloration varies somewhat with the species, but all have dark upper parts, generally deep sooty brown, blackish brown, fuscous black, or plumbeous black.
Some species are uniformly colored, or nearly so, whereas some are markedly lighter below.
The tail is scantily haired and about the same color as the back, except that in some specimens the tip is white. These marsupials could with equal justification be called shrewlike or ratlike in general form. The head is elongate, the eyes are very small, and the ears are rounded and project above the pelage. The tail tapers gradually and is nonprehensile. On the other four digits have well-developed, curved claws.