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IMPORTANT NOTE: We have maintained the originally published taxonomic designation for each specimen despite the fact that many of these specimens have been reclassified since.  We chose to follow this protocol because of the difficulty in keeping up to date with all of the taxonomic groups, and our hesitancy to make a judgement call on taxonomic debates.  As such, please search the database with this in mind, perhaps using higher level taxonomic classifications for your query.

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978 specimens found
Image Spec # CODI Database ID Arch. Locality Geo. Locality Elements Preserved Excavation Date Repository Bed Level Stratigraphic Horizon Bibliographic Information Curatorial Notes ID By ID Date Research Team In Situ Sediment or Matrix Adhering Class Order Suborder Infraorder Superfamily Family Subfamily Tribe Genus Species Subspecies Taxonomic Notes Taxonomic Problems
OH 5 3713 5 - FLK 283 - 45 CRA , MAX , M , I , C , P 17 July - 6 August 1959 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Middle (Zinj.) 22 feet below the upper limit of Bed I (Tuff IF), approximately 20 feet above basalt. Leakey, L. S. B. 1959. A new fossil skull from Olduvai. Nature 184:491-493. Holotype. Almost complete cranium. Adolescent. One reconstructed fossil found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Additional pieces from NMK unpublished. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Zinjanthropus boisei Holotype. This specimen was reclassified as Paranthropus boisei by Robinson (1960). No
M. 21447 181 23 - TK CRA, L/R-MAX-f, L-HOR, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-I 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III, IV 4 feet below Masek Beds Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This neotype specimen is pictured in plates 81 and 82. The original holotype of M. kattwinkelli (VI-1099) was lost in WWII in Munich. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Xenocephalus kattwinkelli Neotype - This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Megalotragus kattwinkeli. No
OLD FLK NI 26010 10196 7 - FLK North COR-f 1960-2 I Haarhoff, P.J. 1993. Latest Pliocene mousebirds (Aves, Coliidae) from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ann S Afr Mus. 103:191–211. Incomplete sternal end of coracoid. "The specimen numbers are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai fossil birds, and the data are kept at the Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville. The fossils belong to the Tanzanian Ministry of Antiquities, Dar es Salaam. They were collected by Mary Leakey in 1960-1962" (Haarhoff, 1993:). Unknown Aves Coliiformes Coliidae Urocoliinae Urocolius No
OVPP Tyto 1 10177 6 - FLK NN RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET , PHX I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Authors do not specify specimen numbers. "Radius, 1 proximal and 1 distal part; ulna, 2 distal parts; carpometacarpus, 1 almost complete and l distal part; l phalanx of the wing; tarsometatarsus, 1 distal part and 2 distal fragments; 4 pedal phalanges" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:23). "Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Tyto alba cf. affinis No
OVPP Tyto 2 10178 7 - FLK North RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET-f I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Authors do not specify specimen numbers. "Coracoid, 2 upper parts; ulna, 1 distal part; carpometacarpus, 5 distal parts;tibiotarsus, 1 distal part; tarsometatarsus, 1 proximal and 2 distal parts; 21 pedal phalanges" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:23). "Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Tyto alba cf. affinis No
DK I 4141 717 24 - DK MTC 104 - Unknown I Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. The authors provide measurements of various limb bones. They don't mention what other elements were preserved or whether it was in situ. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus No
FLK N I 067/1073 718 7 - FLK North MTC 104 - Unknown I Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. The authors provide measurements of various limb bones. They don't mention what other elements were preserved or whether it was in situ. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus No
FLK NN I 895 721 6 - FLK NN MTC 104 - Unknown I Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. The authors provide measurements of various limb bones. They don't mention what other elements were preserved or whether it was in situ. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus No
BK II 315 1324 10 - BK CAL Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) This specimen is associated with the talus BK II 63. Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
B 44 3952 27 - MNK L-CUB II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
BK II 315 5399 10 - BK CAL Jolly, C. J. 1972. The classification and natural history of Theropithecus (Simopithecus)(Andrews, 1916), baboons of the African Plio-Pleistocene: British Museum (Natural History) This specimen is associated with the talus BK II 63. Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Theropithecus No
VI 306/1931 II 101 831 R-HOR, L-HOR-f, CRA 1931 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany II, IV Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. Reck believed this specimen came from Bed IV but Hay (in communication with the authors) suggested that adhering matrix indicates it could also have come from Bed II. 144 - H. Reck 273 - Reck expedition Unknown yes but not specified Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Thaleroceros radiciformis Holotype No
F. 3665 P.P.T. 4 124 16 - LK CRA, L-HOR-f, R-HOR 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Face and maxillae are missing. The holotype is pictured in plates 43 and 44. It was found on the surface between RK and LK. This eland is poorly represented at Olduvai. Original information indicated that this specimen was located in Nairobi. This specimen is likely within the material that was repatriated to Dar in 2011, but this has yet to be confirmed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus arkelli Holotype No
E-58 742 CRA 111 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany(?) Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. This specimen was destroyed in WWII. 138 - E. Schwarz Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus oryx pachyceros Gentry and Gentry (1978a) suggest this name should not be considered. No
1931 II 1111 8532 CRA-f, R-HOR-f 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:33. Cranium lacking face with braincase and much of right HOR. Label/publication taxon ID: Taurotragus oryx pachyceros. Reck Field No.: E 58. Holotype specimen of Taurotragus oryx pachyceros, which is a synonym of the living Taurotragus oryx (Gentry, 1995). Tribe may be Tragelaphini. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus oryx Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-Tatera 4 3964 7 - FLK North CRA-f, M I 1 Denys, C. 1989. Two new gerbillids (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Specimen is described as the "anterior skull fragment with the left and right upper molar rows" Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbillinae Taterillini Tatera gentryi Holotype No
Kar K II 1962.068/5811 760 42 - Kar. K R/L-HOR, CRA 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II upper basal gravels Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. This specimen is pictured in plate 2. The authors indicate other horn cores are found from Bed II to undivided Beds III-IV and teeth occur from Beds I-IV. Original information indicated that this specimen was located in Nairobi. This specimen is likely within the material that was repatriated to Dar in 2011, but this has yet to be confirmed. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus Holotype No
OF 67.48 761 29 - FC W CRA, R-HOR, L-HOR-f 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II upper Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
BK II 1952.218 1292 10 - BK MTC 1952 104 - Unknown II Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
OVPP-Suncus 24 3854 7 - FLK North CRA-f I 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Facial part of the skull with palate with some teeth present (moderately worn). 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus varilla meesteri No
OVPP-Suncus 25 3855 7 - FLK North CRA-f I 1 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Facial part of the skull, crushed dorsally. Some dentition is preserved. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus varilla meesteri No
M. 21461 118 13 - RK CRA, R/L-HOR, R-I, R-P, R-M 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 38 and 39. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros grandis Holotype. Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros grandis. No
OVPP-Tragelaphus 1 121 14 - HWK E CRA, HOR 1959 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II lower 2 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 40, 41. The cranium and horn cones were found near the base of Bed 2. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros maryanus Holotype - Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus. No
OVPP-Tragelaphus 2 122 6 - FLK NN CRA, HOR 1960 104 - Unknown I middle 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Other specimens are present (Leakey, 1971) but are not described. The cranium and horn cones were found near the base of Bed 2. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros maryanus Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus. No
068/5813 123 58 - KK CRA 1959 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates that specimens are common in Bed I, lower Bed II, and early in middle Bed II (Gentry and Gentry, 1978, a). The specimen # is provided by Gentry and Gentry (1978). The cranium and horn cones were found near the base of Bed 2. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros maryanus Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros maryanus. No
OLD-127 12275 CAL 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-127 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Sivatheriinae Sivatherium Yes
OLD/69 MRC S.132 8048 39 - MRC R-MAX, ZYG-f, P, M, C 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV Surface -- Packed in National Museum in Nairobi, Kenya in box 188 or 189 labeled "Cercopithecidae" for transport to National Museum of History, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Enclosed card reads "Simopithecus - Parts of maxilla and skull. (total of 43 frags.) MRC Bed 4 (S. 116, 126 & 132)." Specimen from same individual as S. 123, which is labeled "MRC IV surface S. 123". 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
MRC IV. SURF S. 123 8049 39 - MRC CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV Surface -- Packed in National Museum in Nairobi, Kenya in box 188 or 189 labeled "Cercopithecidae" for transport to National Museum of History, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Enclosed card labeled " SIMOPITH.-part of Maxilla and skull (total of 43 frags. MRC Bed 4(S,116,126 and 132)". Card in package with S. 132 and 194 long with this specimen 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLDUVAI 1955 BK II East 8067 49 - BK E CRA 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Packed in National Museum in Nairobi, Kenya in box 188 or 189 labeled "Cercopithecidae" for transport to National Museum of History, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Calvarium with right and left zygomatics broken off. Root etching. Needs preparation. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLD 69/S.133 DC II 8073 30 - DC MAX, TOOTH-f, CRA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Maxilla with tooth fragments and partial cranium. Enclosed card states "Glamour Boy". Very fragmentary, fragments very small. Needs preparation. Fragments of this specimen (a maxilla with M3) in bag with OLD 69/S.89 SHKE (cranium). 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLD 69/S.89 SHK E 8074 62 - SHK E CRA 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Cranium. Male. Specimen in bag with OLD 69/S.133 DC II (max frag. with M3). Sieving fragments in 81 I/K. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
067/56 16 MCK II 8148 80 - MCK L-CAL 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Left calcaneus. Type specimen. Specimen is in the same bag with 067/5610, 067/5611 and 067/5609. Card with specimen states "N609". 2012/07/30 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus oswaldi No
UNLABELED SPECIMEN OLD? 1 8166 CRA-f, I, M, TOOTH-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Unlabeled cranial and dental fragments including incisor and third molar. Label on box containing fragments states "Simopithecus skull fragments etc". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
067/5615 MCK II Simo 8169 80 - MCK CLA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Fragment of clavicle. Card for specimen states "OLD 1962, Simopithecus oswaldi (type specimen) clavicle?". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
MCK I? Simo 8175 80 - MCK CUBNAV, PHX, MTT-f, CUNE 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Fragments of right foot bones including navicular, cuneiform, intermediate pedal phalanges and proximal half of fifth metatarsal. If specimen labeled (on navicular) is "MCK II"(as opposed to MCK I), specimen may belong with cards found in stack 067/5614, 0617-20 and if so this is a Simopithecus oswaldi type specimen. 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
067/5609 MCK II Simo 8187 80 - MCK L-SCP-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Partial left scapula preserving glenoid process and acromion, and superior 1/3 of spine and lateral border. Found in bag with 067/5622 (R scapula, possibly from same individual.) 2012/08/01 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
067/5622 8188 R-SCP 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Right scapula, almost complete. Has been glued; some fragments have become unglued. Needs preparation. Fragment of blade joins with specimen, fragment is the part of the specimen with label. Found in bag with 067/5609 MCK II Simo (partial L scapula; possibly from same individual). 2012/08/01 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OAS 125 10148 14 - HWK E L-COR-f 1989-2008 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lowermost Prassack KA. 2014. Landscape distribution and ecology of Plio-Pleistocene avifaunal communities from Lowermost Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Human Evolution. 70:1-15. Specimen is labeled C in image: dorsal view of proximal left coracoid. "These fossils are currently being utilized in the publication of the author’s dissertation research wherein they have been given OAS (Olduvai Avian Specimen) numbers. Once the dissertation is completed, they will be returned to the OLAPP laboratory in Arusha, Tanzania, where they will be assigned OLAPP sequence numbers (Prassack, 2014)." 257 - OLAPP Yes Aves Anseriformes Anatidae Sarkidiornis cf. melanotos No
B.E/S K 7-1 1080 46 - JK 2 L-HOR, CRA 104 - Unknown III Gentry, A. W., and Gentry, A. 1978. Fossil Bovidae (Mammalia) of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Part I. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History): Geology 29:289-446. This specimen is pictured in plate 31, figure 2. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Rabaticeras arambourgi No
OVPP-Python 8 1926 CRA-f 104 - Unknown Rage J. 1973. Fossil snakes from Olduvai, Tanzania. In: Fossil vertebrates of Africa, vol. 3:1-6. Pieces of cranium are mentioned but the number of individuals represented is unclear. 149 - J. C. Rage Unknown Reptilia Squamata Boidae Python sebae No