Their general appearance is similar to a porcupine. The back of their body is covered with fur that resembles hard, thorn-like structures, which serve as protection. They have a relatively small body size with shorter spines compared to typical porcupines. The fur has small, stiff structures resembling bristles or spines more than quills. They have a face resembling a mouse but with a long, tapering snout designed for sniffing out scents.