[1] The northern viscacha grows to a head and body length of some 300 to 450 mm (12 to 18 in) with a bushy tail nearly as long which can be curled in a coil.

Its long ears are furry and its body fur is dense and soft, but the tail has coarser hairs.

The dorsal (upper) surface ranges from dark grey at lower altitudes to brown at higher elevations.

[3] The northern viscacha is a herbivore and feeds on a variety of plant material, including grasses, roots, and seeds.

This preference is probably driven by a need to avoid predators, as land-based carnivores are more easily evaded on a steep slope.