Long-tailed porcupines, indigenous to regions such as Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, resemble rats. They boast black or brown coloration, contrasting with white underbodies. Short, dark brown spines with white bases blanket their bodies, excluding their heads and underbelly.

Among their defensive mechanisms, they shed their tails when seized by predators, but these tails do not regenerate. Their broad paws enable adept tree climbing, which is useful when foraging for food. 

Primarily herbivores, they consume various plant materials, including leaves, wood, roots, and bark. Occasionally, they also ingest insects and other arthropods. Notably, their role as food hoarders aids in seed dispersal.