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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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2823 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
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
UCMP 42079 12816 CARA-f 1948 276 - University of California Museum of Paleontology Unknown Reptilia Testudines Yes
NN42 6847 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
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
1931 II 514 8529 CER-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Cervical vertebra frag. Reck Field No.: VI 678. This specimen's number was not visible in any photographs. There are multiple photographs with fossils that potentially represent this specimen. As a result, all photographs that may represent the specimen were added to this record. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 983 9093 CER-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Cervical in 2 fragments. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: E 111. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
067/5615 MCK II Simo 8169 80 - MCK CLA-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Fragment of clavicle. Card for specimen states "OLD 1962, Simopithecus oswaldi (type specimen) clavicle?". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus 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
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
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-624 9997 COR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Surface 6m below Tuff IB; sandy calcareous clays. -- Proximal end. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/02 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-654 10027 COR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sands 1m below carbonate that overlies Tuff IA channel fill. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/03 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OLD FLK NI 26010 10196 7 - FLK North COR-f 1960-2 I Haarhoff, P.J. 1993. Latest Pliocene mousebirds (Aves, Coliidae) from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ann S Afr Mus. 103:191–211. Incomplete sternal end of coracoid. "The specimen numbers are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai fossil birds, and the data are kept at the Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville. The fossils belong to the Tanzanian Ministry of Antiquities, Dar es Salaam. They were collected by Mary Leakey in 1960-1962" (Haarhoff, 1993:). Unknown Aves Coliiformes Coliidae Urocoliinae Urocolius No
OVPP-324 8002 COR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1 meter above Bed I lavas. -- Proximal coracoid 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-422 9793 CRA, HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Middle 5 meters above Tuff 1F on top of aug. sandstone. -- Cranium with associated horn core. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
1960.067/4951 1011 6 - FLK NN CRA, HOR-F 1960 104 - Unknown I 10 feet above the base of Bed 2 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 25, figure 2. The horn core fragments are registered as: 1960.067/4949 067/4946 067/4948 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis This specimen represents an intermediate stage of P. angusticornis and P. altidens. 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
BK II 1955 P.P.T. 1 159 10 - BK CRA, L/R-HOR-f 1955 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. This holotype specimen is pictured in plate 67. The author gave the specimen number as P.P.T. 3, but Gentry and Gentry (1978a) gave the correct number as P.P.T. 1. BK II was added to this specimen number to avoid confusion as there is another specimen with number P.P.T. 1. 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. 138 - E. Schwarz 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus angusticornis Holotype - 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. 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. 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
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
M. 21464 184 19 - SHK CRA, R-HOR, L-HOR-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. It is also pictured in plate 5 C, D of Gentry (1966) where it is labeled as Phenacotragus recki. 137 - A. Gentry 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
OF 67.48 761 29 - FC W CRA, R-HOR, L-HOR-f 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II upper 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 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
OLD 77/S.341 8081 CRA, R/L-M-f, R/L-C 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Complete cranium with R/L canines, R/L M1 (fragmentary) and RM3 unerupted but present in crypt. Sub adult. Needs preparation. Eastern side of the Gorge. Note: There is another card with the specimen but appears to have been misplaced. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 61/2972 MPC I KNM 2.62 8079 CRA-f, FRO 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Cranial fragment,R? frontal bone pars orbitalis with sutures. 2012/07/25 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
M. 14514 165 CRA-f, 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 71. 293 - A.T. Hopwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens No
HWK I 1962.068/6650 936 11 - HWK CRA-f, HOR 1962 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 20, figure 1. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens No
F. 3001 P.P.F. 5 175 CRA-f, HOR-f 1941 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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 77. 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. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Parmularius sp. indet. No
OVPP-543 9914 CRA-f, HOR-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 1/2m above Tuff IA. 5m above OVPP-542, just below tuff with vesicles, reworked, little pebbles. -- Needs prep. Partial cranium with horn cores. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
UNLABELED SPECIMEN OLD? 1 8166 CRA-f, I, M, TOOTH-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Unlabeled cranial and dental fragments including incisor and third molar. Label on box containing fragments states "Simopithecus skull fragments etc". 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
F. 3662 068/5812 P.P.T.2 138 CRA-f, L-HOR, R-HOR-f 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. This specimen is pictured in plates 56 and 58. The adhering matrix suggests this specimen must come from above the Lemuta member. 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 Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas Holotype No
M. 14948 126 CRA-f, L-HOR-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II 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 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Bularchus arok Paratype - Gentry and Gentry (1978a) renamed this specimen as P. oldowayensis. No
1931 II 1295 8536 CRA-f, L-TEM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Dozens of cranial frags, incl. L temporal. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 306. Note that VI 306 was given as a field number for both the Thaleroceros specimen 1931 II 101 and the horn core that attaches to the skull of Megalotragus 1931 II 666. Strange because this may be the only case of a duplicated field number for 2 such different specimens. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. 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
OVPP-576 9949 CRA-f, L/R-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Right on top of ignimbrite. -- Partial cranium with left M1-2 and right M1-3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Deinotheriidae Deinotherium No
OVPP-Otomys 4 3858 6 - FLK NN CRA-f, M, (n=3) I 3 Denys, C. 1989. Phylogenetic affinities of the oldest East African Otomys (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Cranium has left and right upper M123. Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Otomyini Otomys petteri 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