Crested rats are skilled climbers, leaving their daytime burrows at night to collect leaves, buds, and shoots among trees. Along the neck, back, and part of the tail is a prominent mane of coarse hairs, which can be erected when the animal is excited or alarmed. The raised crest exposes a long scent gland, which produces a stifling odor in order to deter predators. The hairs lining the gland have a unique, wicklike structure to help broadcast the odor. Another curious feature of these rodents is the reinforced skull, the significance of which is not known.