The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.

The life histories of amphibians are considered to be well recorded and are frequently regarded as the model complex life history for vertebrates. However, only the most basic information exists for caecilians. Boulengerula taitanus Loveridge 1935 is a direct developing terrestrial caecilian commonly found in agricultural settings of the Taita Hills, Kenya. During 12 monthly visits we collected 239 caecilians by digging into soil. Caecilians were captured on every visit, although increased searching time and low capture numbers coincided when soils were dry. The condition index (ML -3 ) defines three ontogenetic stages, for which growth can be approximately followed over the sampling period through frequency histograms. Juveniles (< 140 mm) appear to become subadults (< 240 mm) around a year after hatching, while subadults mature into adults (> 240 mm) after a further year. Adult males are significantly longer than females. Mating occurs in the soil prior to egg laying at the beginning of the short rains. Females construct a chamber before laying eggs (x = 5), and are found attending eggs during incubation and after hatching. Juveniles make up the smallest proportion of the population (maximum 24% in April and May). Information produced during this study is used to develop a tentative life-table for this species.

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A new species Callulina dawida is described from the Taita Hills, Kenya. It is distinguished from other members of the genus on the basis of the degree of digital expansion. The species further differs from other members of the genus based on molecular sequence comparisons and on its call. The morphological variation in the new species is described, including a comparison of internal and external characters and sexual dimorphism with other species of Callulina. The conservation status of the species, on the basis of its restricted distribution and land use changes in the area, is considered to be of high concern. An updated key of the species of Callulina is provided.