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The diurnal dassie-rat, Petromus typicus, occurs in the mountainous areas along the eastern side of the Namib Desert, as well as and on inselbergs in the Namib with an annual mean rainfall >25 mm. Its distribution is limited by the presence of either moist woodlands or to areas with cold, wet winters. The gestation period is taken as three months, based on the precocial condition of the young at birth. A maximum of three young per litter was recorded, with two being the mode. The young start taking solid food at 14 days and wean at about three weeks, then attaining adulthood at about nine months (at a mass of ca. 150 g). The two main breeding seasons could be related to the onset of the rainy season, although it cannot be ruled out that breeding is endogenous.