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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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7924 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-1537 10468 14 - HWK E 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania 1 Equid astragalus & 2 indeterminate fragments Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Equidae Yes
OAS 448 10146 14 - HWK E R-HUM-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 A in image: posterior view of proximal right humerus. "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 Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax cf. carbo No
OAS 136 10147 14 - HWK E R-HUM 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 B in image: anterior view of complete right humerus. "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 Anas cf. crecca 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
OAS 354 10149 14 - HWK E R-CARMET-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 D in image: ), anterior view of right proximal carpometacarpus. "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 cf. Cygnus aff. olor No
OAS 032 10150 14 - HWK E L-TBT-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 E in image: anterior view of distal left tibiotarsus. "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 Gruiformes Rallidae Rallus cf. caerulescens No
OAS 107 10152 14 - HWK E L-TARMET-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 G in image: anterior view of distal left tarsometatarsus. "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 Phoenicopteriformes Phoenicopteridae Phoenicopterus cf. roseus No
OH 31 3746 14 - HWK E M-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Upper Surface 1.5 m below Tuff IF Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo No
OH 57 3772 14 - HWK E P-f 1977 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Lower II Surface. -- Lower P3 or P4 crown. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo sp. No
OH 67 3782 14 - HWK E M-f 2001 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lowermost Surface. Upper adult fragment. Specimen is pictured on top right in image 1. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homo or Australopithecus No
OH 77 3792 14 - HWK E L-M-f 2010 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lowermost Surface. OLAPP/Earthwatch”Discovered by an Earthwatch project led by F.T. Masao in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and will be described elsewhere.” -R. Clarke (2011) Left upper M2 crown. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus africanus No
1959.211 749 58 - KK R-AST 1959 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 Pelorovis oldowayensis No
1953 KK II 211 1780 58 - KK R-AST 1953 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
KK II 1959.224 1304 58 - KK HOR-f 1959 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 Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella sp. 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
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
LK I 891 1396 16 - LK TIB 1957 104 - Unknown I Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. 137 - A. Gentry No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
F904 3096 16 - LK PERI 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 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
F905 3097 16 - LK PERI 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 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
M. 14947 125 17 - PLK FRLT-f, L/R-HOR-f 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. Specimen is pictured in plate 46. According to the author, it is "in bad shape." Gentry and Gentry suggest this specimen probably came from the top of Bed 2 at PLK. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1936 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Bularchus arok Holotype - Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassidfied this specimen as Pelorovis oldowayensis. No
OVPP-Pelorovis 80 628 17 - PLK UK 104 - Unknown II upper 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 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
OH 83 13062 17 - PLK 323 - 23 NRCR 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania Ndutu Upper Reiner, W. B., Masao, F., Sholts, S. B., Songita, A. V., Stanistreet, I., Stollhofen, H., … & Hlusko, L. J. (2017). OH 83: A new early modern human fossil cranium from the Ndutu beds of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. American journal of physical anthropology, 164(3), 533-545. 292 - Proyecto Olduvai Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
OLD-1577 13163 18 - VEK MTP-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-1577; distal MTP-f Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
OLD-1580 13166 18 - VEK MTP-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK I S -- OLD-1580; distal MTP-f Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
OLD-1640 13172 18 - VEK MTP-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK I S -- OLD-1640; distal MTP-f Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
OLD-228 12502 18 - VEK AST 114 - Natural History Museum UK IV -- OLD-228 Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae No
OLD-233 12508 18 - VEK FEM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-233; femoral head fragment; "VEK Site antiquus s?" Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae No
OLD-359 12565 18 - VEK M 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-359; 1450 (?); "OLD Y VEK I 18.V.35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Hippopotamidae in Hippo drawer Unknown
M. 21451 128 18 - VEK CRA-f, R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This holotype was found at the junction of Beds 3 and 4. It is pictured in plates 49 and 50. [This species is documented at SHK II, FLK N I, and BK II (Leakey, 1971).] 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Gorgon olduvaiensis Holotype - Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis. No
1957.56 P.P.T.3 139 18 - VEK CRA-f, L/R-HOR 1957 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper Upper Villafranchian Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 59 and 60. It is from a female. 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 Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas Paratype No
M. 21422 155 18 - VEK CRA-f, L/R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 138 - E. Schwarz 264 - Leakey family expedition No Matrix adhering to specimen suggests it came from Bed 2. Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus angusticornius This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Parmularius angusticornis. No
M. 21428 160 18 - VEK CRA, L/R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plates 68 and 69. The specimen has VEK II written on it but it is registered as VEK I. 138 - E. Schwarz 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus angusticornis Paratype - This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Parmularius angusticornis. No
M. 21457 185 18 - VEK FRO-f, HOR 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Antidorcas recki. No
M. 21462 188 18 - VEK CRA, L/R-HOR 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The specimen is pictured in plate 85. It is pictured in plate 5 of Gentry (1966). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Antidorcas recki. No
M. 14563 206 18 - VEK R-FRO, R-HOR 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 273 - Reck expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus recki This specimen was reclassified as Gazella wellsi by Gentry (1966) and later to Antidorcas recki by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
M. 21429 211 18 - VEK CRA, L/R-HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II? Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The specimen was badly crushed prior to fossilization. It is pictured in plate 91. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen was reclassified as Parmularius cf. angusticornis by Gentry and Gentry (1978). Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen's horn cores have attributes of P. antiquus as well. No
M. 22365 1196 18 - VEK CRA, R/L-HOR 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki No
M. 21456 1203 18 - VEK L-HOR 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. This specimen was originally assigned to G. wellsi by Gentry (1966). 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella wellsi Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Antidorcas recki. No
M. 22361 1204 18 - VEK L-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki No
VEK I 56 P.P.T. 3 849 18 - VEK HOR, CRA 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas No