Small- to medium-sized mouse. Color very variable ranging from uniform dark gray with white feet in Delta and Nile Valley to pale brown above, tinged orange along flanks, white below with pale limbs and white feet in desert populations, with many variations in between. Palest in Sinai form A. c. dimidiatus. Fur from behind the shoulder along back to tail base spiny. In most forms, distinct white patch below eye, clearly vis­ible in field, and behind ears. Rather pointed snout with clear delin­eation of white underside. Ears large, whitish. Eyes prominent. Tail about length of body, brownish above, pale below, sparsely haired with scales distinct.