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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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1427 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-Suncus 2 11 6 - FLK NN MAN, (n=242) 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. 242 lower jaw fragments occur in layers 1, 2, 3 but not in highest layers of Bed 1. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus lixus No
OVPP-Elephas 2 91 8 - MK MAN, C, M, I, P 104 - Unknown I lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several other specimens found at this site in Bed I but probably fell from Bed II. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Specimen was "embedded in matrix." Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas africanavus No
FLK NN I 608 212 6 - FLK NN MAN, CRA, HOR, MAX 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I middle 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen was badly cracked and weathered prior to fossilization. Other specimens are found here as well. 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 Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen was reclassified as Hippotragus gigas by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
OLD BK 2 132 264 10 - BK MAN, L/R-I 104 - Unknown 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 plate 20. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Stylohipparion sp. No
OVPP-Stylohipparion 1 265 MAN, L/R-I 104 - Unknown Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 20. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Stylohipparion No
OLDUVAI BK II 8069 10 - BK MAN, L/R-M, L/R-P, L/R-C, L/R-I 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. Juvenile mandible. Ramus not preserved. Left and right I1-2, C, PM 3-4, and M1-2, and left M3 present. Right M3 absent. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
1273/1957 57 MAN, L/R-P, L-C, L/R-M 1957 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author alludes to a skull and mandible that had not yet been described at the time of publication in 1965. 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 Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Pantherinae Panthera indet. No
G. 356 102 5 - FLK MAN, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-C, L/R-I 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 23. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Promesochoerus mukiri Holotype No
OLD 1472 3694 63 - JLK MAN, M, P 1957 104 - Unknown IV Leakey, L., and Whitworth, T. 1958. Notes on the genus Simopithecus, with a description of a new species from Olduvai. This specimen is pictured in plate 4, figure 1; plate 5, figure 1; plate 6, figure 1; plate 8, plate 9, and plate 10. All descriptions of this specimen indicate that the pictured specimen is the holotype. In plate 4, however, the description reads female S. jonathani so it is unclear whether this is the same specimen or not. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus jonathani Holotype No
OVPP-Elephantulus 48 6661 MAN, M, P 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus broomi No
OVPP-Elephantulus 48 2894 MAN, M, P 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus broomi No
FLK N I 1236 106 7 - FLK North MAN, P, M 1961 104 - Unknown I upper 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. FLK N I 1235 and 1236 are two parts of the same individual and are both considered the holotype. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Ectopotamochoerus dubius Holotype No
M. 21466 116 MAN, P, M 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 36 and 37. The author indicates this species is well represented in Beds 2 and 4, suggesting other materials may be available in the BMNH. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Giraffinae Giraffini Giraffa jumae Holotype No
OVPP-Protocyon 1 87 6 - FLK NN MAN, RAM-f, L-P, L-M 104 - Unknown I middle 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 133 - L. Werdelin 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Prototocyon recki No
OH 7 3722 6 - FLK NN 283 - 45 MAN , L-PAR , R-PAR-f , M , OCC-f , L/R-TEM-f , PHX , CAR 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 On surface of clay immediately overlying Tuff IB. 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. Holotype. "Jonny's Child". Juvenile. Mandible with partial dentition and unerupted R/L-M3, almost complete left parietal and fragments of right parietal, left and right petrous portions (temporal) , "sundry small skull fragments ... [and] twenty-one bones of the hand, including the trapezium, scaphoid and a number of phalanges" (Leakey, MD, 1971:228). "One upper molar, a terminal phalanx, and a broken capitate bone, found on the surface, probably also belong to this individual" (:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Holotype No
OH 13 3728 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" MAN , MAX , CRA-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle IIB 5 feet above chert horizon Paratpye. "This consists of a sub-adult skull, probably female, with the third molars coming into wear. It is represented by the greater part of the mandible, including the complete dentition, although the crowns of the incisors are damaged and the left ascending ram us is not preserved; the greater part of the maxillae, represented by two fragments both lacking the anterior portions; the greater part of the occipital; the right parietal and temporal; parts of the left parietal and temporal; together with a few frontal fragments and approximately fifty additional pieces which it has not been possible to fit together" (Leakey MD, 1971:231). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 5 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype No
OVPP-Megadermidae 2 20 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 2 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Undetermined megadermid. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Megadermidae No
OVPP-Nycticeius 1 21 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 1 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Nycticeius schlieffeni No
OVPP-Nycticeius 2 22 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Nycticeius schlieffeni This specimen resembles N. schlieffeni. No
OVPP-Pipistrellus 1 24 6 - FLK NN MAN 104 - Unknown I middle 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Microchiroptera Vespertilionoidea Vespertillionidae Vespertillioninae Pipstrellini Pipistrellus rueppelei This mandible resembles P. rueppelei but is somewhat larger and is roughly the size of P. dormeri from India. No
M. 20232 44 MAN 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No teeth were preserved with the mandible. The locality is not given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra No
M. 20233 65 MAN 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No locality listed. It was found on the surface but the author suggests it might come form Bed 2. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Felinae Felis crassidens No
OVPP-Elephas 3 92 MAN 104 - Unknown II lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Many mandibles and upper dentition were recovered from bed 2. This specimen is pictured in plate 18. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas exoptatus No
OLD 1955 BK II 293 101 10 - BK Man 1955 104 - Unknown 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 plate 20. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Stylohipparion sp. No
FLK N I 441 109 7 - FLK North MAN 1960 104 - Unknown I upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Tetraconodontinae Notochoerus euilus Holotype - The author does not give distinction between this specimen and FLK N I 335. Both seem to be mandibles, perhaps each side of the same individual. At the time of publication, it was considered along with FLK N I 335 to be the holotype of N. eulius. No
1952 BK II 123 1696 10 - BK MAN 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis 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
OLD 6I/2968 DK I Pit.5 8192 24 - DK MAN-f, M, M-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Pit.5 -- Mandibular fragment with second molar and fragment of first molar. Pleistocene. Card in bag with specimen states "Papio sp" and Cercopithecoidea". 2012/08/02 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea 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-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-Elephantulus 33 2879 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi No
OVPP-Elephantulus 35 2881 7 - FLK North MAN-f, M, P 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi No
OLD? FLK? 8258 91 - FLK (?) MAN-f, M, UK-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Mandible fragment with molar. Specimen found in small box with other small fragments and OLD/1960 FLK I. Card in bag with specimen states "Olduvai 1960 FLK I Main dig. Zinj. level, section F. galago". Other card with specimens states "Strip 3 '9- 1+2' W". 2012/08/09 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No