Stocky, rabbit-like mammal with short ears and no external tail. Upper parts gray through gray-brown to ocher, flanks and underparts, including inside of limbs and throat, paler and buffish. Large glands on back sometimes surrounded by more yellow-orange hair, but this feature is variable. Coat short and dense, liberally scattered with much longer, touch-sensitive hairs. Feet distinctive: forefoot with four very short toes; hind feet with three, one of which is elongat­ed, separated from the others with a curious, curved claw, and used as a grasping toe. Neck very short giving the impression that the head is just stuck straight onto the body. Snout pointed but short. Nasal region naked and black. Whiskers well-developed and black. Eyes rather large and dark with pale patch often visible above eye. Ears small and rounded with paler patch behind base. External tail absent.