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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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1690 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
OVPP-L-1647 10510 86 - HK 10 bone fragments of various species 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania 1 Giraffidae molar, 3 fish spines, & other indeterminate fragments Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1571 10493 297 - TK Fish Gully 15 Small fragments including fish spines, Bovidae tooth fragment, microfauna bone fragments , 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-L-1618 10500 41 - WK E 19 Bone fragments, including fish, Bovidae phalanx, and others 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OLD-1 12394 70 - EHK 2 RIB (proximal); PHX 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-1; EHK I S 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Yes
OVPP-L-1655 10518 86 - HK 5 Bones including Bovidae phalanx & distal phalanx 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Bovidae distal phalanx has on it "OLD/69 HK.134" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Bovidae Yes
OVPP-L-1658 10521 86 - HK 9 Elements: horn core fragment, distal femur, and distal metapodial 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Various taxonomy includes Aves, Bovidae, Leporidae, + others Unknown Yes
M. 17074 10385 A fragment of mandible with a well preserved lower third molar 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I top of Bed I F.L.K. LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
M. 17112 10387 An upper third molar in a fragment of maxilla. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II F.L.K. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
OVPP-L-1570 10492 297 - TK Fish Gully Approximately 400 small bone fragments of microfauna, fish and crocodile 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Yes
OVPP-Clarias 33 2805 19 - SHK ARTC, PCG-f 1955 104 - Unknown IV Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Mammalia 3801 83 - FLK NW AST, (n=33), CAL, (n=73), FEM, (n=272), HUM, (n=186), I, (n=316), M, (n=108), MAN, (n=161), MAX, (n=68), MTP, (n=257), PHX, (n=77), PVG, (n=218), RAD, (n=55), SCP, (n=40), TIB, (n=395), ULNA, (n=76), VER, (n=595) I 20 Arcos, S., Sevilla, P., and Fernandez-Jalvo, Y. 2010. Preliminary small mammal taphonomy of FLK NW level 20 (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Quarternary Research 74:405-410. MNI is 198. Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". Unknown Mammalia Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". No
OVPP-Canis 1 3889 7 - FLK North AST, CAL, MTP I Zinjanthropus 3 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author does not specify number of each element or whether any of the specimens are from the same individual. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris No
OVPP-L-1053 10332 22 - SC AST , POD 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Box: SC. 12 specimens: OLD/71.SC.21, OLD/71.SC.48, OLD/71.SC.75, OLD/71.SC.426, OLD/71.SC.131, OLD/71.SC.476, OLD/71.SC.504, OLD/71.SC.1054, OLD/71.SC.1184, OLD/71.SC.1257, OLD/71.SC.1601, OLD/71.SC.1727 Unknown Mammalia Bovidae No
OVPP-L-1094 10373 22 - SC AST , POD 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Box: SC. 7 specimens: OLD/71.SC.103, OLD/71.SC.352, OLD/71.SC.480, OLD/71.SC.507, OLD/71.SC.1310, OLD/71.SC.1686, OLD/71.SC.1815 Unknown Mammalia No
1931 II 602 8414 CAP 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Label/Publication Taxon ID: Alcelaphus kattwinkeli. Reck Field No.: VI 192. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 633 8415 CAP 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Label/Publication Taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 360 / VIII 360. Label reads VI 360 as does the listing by Schwarz, but field number on specimen is VIII 360. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OLD-112 12404 CAR (SCPH) 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-112; SCPH scaphoid Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae No
F378 3052 6 - FLK NN CARA, PLAS 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. This specimen is from a juvenile. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Pelomedusidae Pelusios sinuatus No
OVPP-Testudines 12 3079 CARA, PLAS 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
OVPP-Testudines 12 6846 CARA, PLAS 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
F4733 3048 CARA, PLAS-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 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. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown sinuatus W. Auffenberg ",",",",",",",",",",Reptilia" No
F6250 3085 69 - GRK S CARA, PLAS-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
F6250 6852 69 - GRK S CARA, PLAS-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
F490 3028 6 - FLK NN CARA-f, LIMB, PLAS-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Auffenberg, W. 1981. The fossil turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981:509-522. 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. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
OVPP-Testudines 13 3082 29 - FC W CARA-f, PLAS 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) -- 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. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
OVPP-Testudines 13 6849 29 - FC W CARA-f, PLAS 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) -- 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. 152 - W. Auffenberg 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines The author mentions there are over 3,000 fossilized turtle fragments from Olduvai Gorge, 98% of which are from the species Pelusios sinuatus. However, it is unclear which specimens belong to which species based on the description given. When it was unclear, the specimen is only referred to as belonging to the Order Testudines. No
295 2837 10 - BK CLEI-f, L-SPINE 1957 104 - Unknown II Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
295 6605 10 - BK CLEI-f, L-SPINE 1957 104 - Unknown II Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP Bubo 3 10185 7 - FLK North COR-f , HUM-f , RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET-f , FEM-f , TBT , CUNE , 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. Coracoid, 2 upper and 2 lower parts; humerus, 3 distal parts; radius, 2 proximal parts; ulna, 1 distal part; carpometacarpus, 3 proximal parts; femur, 4 proximal parts and 1 distal; tibiotarsus, 3 distal parts; tarsometatarsus, 1 almost complete, 1 proximal and 1 distal parts; 1 ulnare (listed in elements as cuneiform); 20 pedal phalanges. Authors do not specify specimen numbers and refer to these specimens as "referred material". 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, 1984:17, 19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae 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
M. 21460/OR-NR VIII 343 205 CRA, MAX, HOR, M, P 1913 109 - BSPG, Munich, Germany(?)/ NHM UK(?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This holotype was collected by Reck in 1913 and is housed in the Munich Museum, registered as OR-NR VIII 343. The BMNH number, M. 21460 is for the cast and is shown in plate 87. Locality was not provided by the author. 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Holotype - This specimen was reclassified as Antidorcas recki by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
FLK NN I 177/1960 107 6 - FLK NN CRA, MAX, P, M, C 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I middle 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 28. This skull is "very crushed."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 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Potamochoerus intermedius Holotype No
FLK N I 1235 105 7 - FLK North CRA, MAX, P, M 1961 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 25. It is the same individual as FLK N I 1236. The specimen is crushed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Ectopotamochoerus dubius Holotype No
068/6514 3711 34 - MLK CRA, MAX-f, R/L-P, R/L-M 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey, M. G., and Leakey, R. E. F. 1973. Pleistocene Colobinae from East Africa. Leakey, L. S. B., Savage, R. J. G., Coryndon, S. C., eds. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 3. London: Academic Pr This specimen is pictured in plate 3. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Colobinae Colobini Cercopithecoides kimeui Holotype No
S. 208 1099 CRA, PAL-f, L-M 1970 104 - Unknown Lemuta Tuff 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 32, figure 1. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. This specimen has some resemblance to Rabaticeras arambourgi. It is a different species than specimen 1963.068/5976. No
1931 II 35 8808 CRA, R/d-P, R/d-M, L/d-P, L/d-M 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Dietrich, W.O. 1937. Pleistoz Reck Field No.: none. Dietrich 1937:97 states this is probably from Bed IV. Leakey 1965 refers to Koiropotamus as Potamochoerus (Koiropotamus). Museum label notes: juv., female, Horizont 4. Almost complete cranium w R dP4-M1, L P1, L dP4-M1. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Koiropotamus Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. 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
FLK N I 1961.7154 893 7 - FLK North CRA, R/L-HOR, R/L-M, R-P 104 - Unknown II middle 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 15. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Connochaetes sp. No
OH 24 3739 74 - DK E CRA , M , P 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Lower Surface Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Cranium is crushed. Teeth not specified. From same horizon as OH 4. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis No
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