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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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597 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-Testudines 8 3075 7 - FLK North CARA-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 9 3076 7 - FLK North PLAS 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
10 736 10180 7 - FLK North R-COR I Upper Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré C. 1982. Fossil Anhingas (Aves: Anhingidae) from early man sites of Hadar and Omo (Ethiopia) and Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Geobios 15: 505-515 Right coracoid, almost complete expect for sternocoracoidal process and tip of procoracoid process. "Place of conservation of material : The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to their countries of origin. The serial numbers such as 2780 are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai birds, and the data are kept at the University of Florida, Gainesville" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982:510). Specimen number does not match specimen pictured. It is possibly that there is a typo that erroneously listed the specimen pictured in figures 5 and 6. Figure description: "Right coracoid, 10 737, Lower Pleistocene, Frida Leakey Horongo, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. (5) anterior view. (6) posterior view" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982). 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Aves Suliformes Anhingidae Anhinga hadarensis 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
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
OLD 1920 10171 7 - FLK North 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. Distal portion. "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 Bubo cf. lacteus No
OVPP-Chamaeleontidae 3 367 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Chamaeleontidae Indet. No
OVPP-Scincidae 3 370 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Indet. No
OVPP-Python 4 374 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Boidae Python sp. No
OVPP-Colubridae 4 383 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Indet. No
OVPP-Elapidae 3 389 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Elapidae Indet. No
OVPP-Bitis 4 393 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Bitis sp. No
OVPP-Saccostomus 2 34 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This species is found in all levels. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Rodentia Nesomyidae Cricetomyinae Saccostomurini Saccostomus sp. Author is not completely of its taxonomy. It might represent an unidentified murid. No
OVPP-Muridae 4 40 7 - FLK North P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens of unidentified murids are present. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae The author is unsure of the taxonomy. No
OVPP-Pedetes 1 255 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates there are a "few specimens." 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Anomaluromorpha Pedetidae Pedetes sp. No
OVPP-Dendromys 2 258 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I middle 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No information on the types of specimens is given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Dendromurinae Dendromys No
OVPP-Hystrix 3 261 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 6 Details of elements preserved are not given by the author. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Yes Mammalia Rodentia Hystricognatha Hystricognathi Hystricidae Hystricinae Hystrix galatea No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 1 262 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Elements preserved were not described by the author. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus sp. No
OVPP-Tatera 3 434 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbillinae Taterillini Tatera sp. No
OVPP-Otomys 3 437 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys kempi No
OVPP-Gerbillus 2 438 7 - FLK North 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbilinae Gerbilini Gerbillus sp No
OVPP-Muridae 7 445 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Xerus 10 446 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus sp. No
OVPP-Hystrix 4 451 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Hystricognatha Hystricognathi Hystricidae Hystricinae Hystrix sp. No
OVPP-Steatomys 2 522 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Dendromurinae Steatomys sp. No
OVPP-Xerus 1 1351 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris 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
OVPP-Xerus 2 2425 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 3 2426 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 4 2427 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 5 2428 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 6 2429 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 7 2430 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 8 2431 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Xerus 9 2432 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae Sciurinae Xerini Xerus inauris No
OVPP-Sciuridae 1 2433 7 - FLK North MAN-f, (n=9) 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I M3 Denys, C. 1990. First occurrence of Xerus cf. inauris. Palaont. Z. 64: 359 The author mentions nine mandible fragments of Xerus cf. inauris and 25 total remains of sciurids. 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. 147 - C. Denys 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Sciuromorpha Sciurida Sciuridae No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 6 2901 7 - FLK North SKULL-f, R/L-M 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. This specimen is picture in figure 1-1 and 1-2. 147 - C. Denys Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegeri Holotype? No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 3 2902 7 - FLK North SKULL-f, R/L-M 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. This specimen is pictured in figure 1-3. 147 - C. Denys Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegeri Hypodigm No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 4 2903 7 - FLK North MAN, TOOTH, (n~60) 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. 147 - C. Denys Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegeri No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 7 2963 7 - FLK North MAN-f, (n=55), M 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. 147 - C. Denys Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegerijaegeri No