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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
F306 3057 24 - DK NUCH 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
F437 3059 24 - DK NUCH, SUPY 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 5 3072 24 - DK NUCH 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 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 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
NN42 3080 CARA-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "NN" though this is not a known locality. Perhaps it comes from FLK NN. 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
F558 3081 CARA-f, NRL-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "SI" though this is not a known locality. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone sp. The author puts this specimen in Geochelone, species B. 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
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
OVPP-Geochelone 2 3107 24 - DK PLR-f, 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 Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone pardalis 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
F214 3115 6 - FLK NN CARA 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I -- 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 Pelomedusidae Pelusios sinuatus 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
OH 3 3719 10 - BK 280 - 94 d-C , L-d-M 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Upper Upper part of BK channel which cuts into Tuff IID Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. In the first publication of these specimens (Leakey, LSB, 1958), Leakey described the teeth as a deciduous lower canine and a left deciduous upper M2. "This view was not shared by Robinson, von Koenigswald and others, who preferred to regard it as either a permanent or a deciduous upper molar of an australopithecine character" (Leakey, MD, 1970:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus Referred to as species boisei in Tobias (Olduvai Gorge volume IV, 1991). No
OH 14 3729 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" CRA-f , FRO-f , R-PAR-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle B Surface. Inferred as same horizon as OH 13 (Leakey MD, 1971). Leakey, L.S.B., Tobias, P.V. & Napier, J.R. 1964. A new species of the genus Homo from Olduvai Gorge. Nature 202(4927): 7-9. Juvenile (sutures unfused). Thin skull. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 11 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Juvenile, parietal is thin. No
OH 30 3745 72 - FLK Maiko Gully 283 - 45 TOOTH , d-TOOTH , CRA-f , 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Surface "Parts deciduous and germ dentitions" (Leakey MD, 1971:234). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus boisei No
OH 79 3794 49 - BK E CRA-f 2007 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lower-Middle Surface. OLAPP “Discovered by an Earthwatch project led by F.T. Masao in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and will be described elsewhere.” -R. Clarke (2011)/Earthwatch Weathered. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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
MLK 068/6514 3803 34 - MLK CRA-f, P, M, (n=3) II Lower From horizon above Lemuta Member of Lowed Bed II Leakey MG and Leakey REF. 1973. New large Pleistocene colobinae (Mammalia, Primates) from East Africa. Fossil Vertebrates of Africa Vol. 3, 121-38. Similar to colobine specimen KNM-ER 398 in cranial dimensions. Maxillary dentition represented by P4, M2, M1, M2. Crania is represented by multiple fragments, and some fragments are missing. Large canine socket of right maxilla indicates specimen is male. Specimen is pictured in Plate 3. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Either Cercopithecinae or Cynopithencinae. Author states that the cranium is typical of Cercopithecinae but that the dental morphology resembles Cynopithecinae. No
OVPP-Clarias 40 3857 6 - FLK NN L-CLEI-f 1960 I 2 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. This specimen was found in trench II extension E. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
7446 3882 7 - FLK North CRA-f, TOOTH I Zinjanthropus 3 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is the anterior portion of the skull with teeth. Specimen is broken. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris No
7304 3883 7 - FLK North R-MAN, C, P, (n=4), M, (n=3) I Zinjanthropus 3 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is a right mandible with canine to M3. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris 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
761 3890 7 - FLK North MAN, P, (n=5), M, (n=3), C I Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is a left and right mandible with P3, M1 and C-M2. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Otocyon recki No
9317 3891 7 - FLK North MAN, P, (n=6), M, (n=2), C I Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is a right and a left mandible with P3-M1 and C-M1. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Otocyon recki No
OVPP-Zinjanthropus 10 3920 5 - FLK CRA-f I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey, LSB. 1960. Recent discoveries at Olduvai Gorge. Nature 188:1050-1052. Author describes specimen as "parts of the skull of a second individual," in reference to the first Z. boisei skull found at this site OH 5. 157 - L. Hlusko 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
7642 3929 R-M, C, P, (n=3), M I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen is mandible with C-M1. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
5395 3931 C Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
1303 3939 R-COX I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/25 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
7285 3940 L-COX I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Carnivora No
1116 3941 L-COX I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, FLK NN, KK, BK, and DK but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
1776 3946 R-C I/II Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from BK, THL, and FLK N but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
2333 3947 10 - BK R-COX 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 Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
6645 3957 CAL V Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Author lists specimen in an assemblage that is described as coming from FLK N, Dal K, and FLK NN but does not specifically assign site. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
6158 3959 7 - FLK North C-f 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 Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
2482 3960 27 - MNK R-C-f 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 Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-L-32 3999 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-88-229-1-5. Box #: OLD881-E. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
OVPP-L-49 4016 CUBNAV 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-88-224-6-S. Box #: OLD881-E. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-L-61 4029 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-88-224-3-S. Box #: OLD881-E. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 Unknown Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-L-104 4072 HOR-f, CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-L-105 4073 CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 Unknown Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No