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The pattern and controls of reproductive activity of the hairy-footed gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba, were investigated in the semi-arid environment of the Karoo, South Africa. Animals (N= 62) were collected monthly for 14 months. Although some animals appeared to be capable of breeding throughout the year, successful breeding was observed only in summer months. Reproductive activity was related positively to mean monthly rainfall and negatively to actual rainfall and was associated with variations in minimum temperatures and photoperiod. An opportunistic reproductive strategy was proposed with the timing and controls of reproduction being sex, population and habitat specific. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.