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The timing of reproduction can significantly affect an offspring's fitness,thereby also influencing the fitness of the parents,especially in species inhabiting extreme environments,such as deserts.Female reproductive cycles in Phrynocephalus przewalskii were studied from April to September 2008.Significant cycles of gonadal volume were found in all studied populations and the cycles were similar among the various populations.Females began vitellogenesis in April and contained oviductal eggs form May to June.Gonad volume decreased significantly in July and reached minimum volume from August to September.The follicular growth was negatively correlated with increasing precipitation and temperature in all populations.Hatching occurs during summer and early fall,when most of the annual rainfall occurs.Mean clutch size based on all populations was 2.7 ± 0.9 SE (n=71).