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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
OLD 15802 10155 L-COR I Layer 3 Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. HOLOTYPE. "Left coracoid lacking the procoracoid and the external distal angle... Paratypes: The following specimens are from layer 3 of locality FLK NNI and can be attributed to the same individual as the holotype: 15740, premaxillae; 3301, lower part of right coracoid. 15364 and 15473, proximal and distal parts of left femur; 16377, distal part of right femur; 15701, distal part of left tibiotarsus; 15776, left fibula; 16262, proximal part of right tarsometatarsus; 15730, distal part of left tarsometatarsus; 15942, 15946, 16050, 16171, 16174, 16176 to 16180, pedal phalanges. 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). Image notes: (Scale = 2 cm) A-B: Left coracoid, holotype, OLD 15802, FLK NNI, layer 3, A anterior face, B posterior face. C: Right tarsometatarsus, proximal part, paratype, OLD 16262, FLK NNI, scree, anterior face. D: Left tarsometatarsus, distal part, paratype, OLD 15730, FLK NNI, layer 3, anterior face. E-F: Left femur, proximal half, paratype, OLD 15364, FLK NNI, layer 2+3, E anterior face, F POSterior face. G-H: Left femur, distal part, paratype, OLD 15473, FLK NNI, layer 3, G anterior face, H posterior face. I: Left tarsometatarsus, almost complete, OLD 11574, FLK NI, layer 1, anterior face. J-K: Left femur, lacking the distal part, OLD 11586, FLK NI, layer 2, J anterior face, K posterior face. Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae No
OLD 3301 10157 6 - FLK NN R-COR-f I Layer 3 Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. PARATYPE. "Paratypes: The following specimens are from layer 3 of locality FLK NNI and can be attributed to the same individual as the holotype: 15740, premaxillae; 3301, lower part of right coracoid. 15364 and 15473, proximal and distal parts of left femur; 16377, distal part of right femur; 15701, distal part of left tibiotarsus; 15776, left fibula; 16262, proximal part of right tarsometatarsus; 15730, distal part of left tarsometatarsus; 15942, 15946, 16050, 16171, 16174, 16176 to 16180, pedal phalanges. 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). Image notes: (Scale = 2 cm) A-B: Left coracoid, holotype, OLD 15802, FLK NNI, layer 3, A anterior face, B posterior face. C: Right tarsometatarsus, proximal part, paratype, OLD 16262, FLK NNI, scree, anterior face. D: Left tarsometatarsus, distal part, paratype, OLD 15730, FLK NNI, layer 3, anterior face. E-F: Left femur, proximal half, paratype, OLD 15364, FLK NNI, layer 2+3, E anterior face, F POSterior face. G-H: Left femur, distal part, paratype, OLD 15473, FLK NNI, layer 3, G anterior face, H posterior face. I: Left tarsometatarsus, almost complete, OLD 11574, FLK NI, layer 1, anterior face. J-K: Left femur, lacking the distal part, OLD 11586, FLK NI, layer 2, J anterior face, K posterior face. Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae No
M. 17090 10388 A broken fragment of the left side of a mandible with damaged first molar, but with second and third molars intact. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Holotype. Formerly Coryndon Museum No. F. 3666. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus olduvaiensis Yes
OVPP-709 10082 R-SCP-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Just below Tuff IA. -- Right scapular fragment with glenoid fossa. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/07 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
MB.Ma.29305 9205 CRA 1913 128 - Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany Horizont 3 -- Holotype. Reck field number: VIII 781. Mfn room number: 2251. Cabinet: P0448-6. Drawer: 71. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Otocyon recki Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-288 7966 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Grey gravel horizon -- Very worn lower canine. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Primates 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
MLK 068/6514 7564 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
HWK EE II 1965.068/5975 1018 37 - HWK EE CRA-f, R/L-HOR 1965 104 - Unknown II middle found 3.7 meters above the Sandy Conglomerate 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 26, figures 1, 2. 131 - A. Remane Yes "pyroxene-rich volcanic sandstone" Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius sp. No
OVPP-94 7772 R/L-HOR, R/L-FRLT, CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Claystone just below Tuff 1E. -- Partial skull with right and left frontlets and horn cores. Needs preparation. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-682 10055 MTC 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Clays 2m below carbonate that overlies Tuff IA channel fill. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/04 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-424 9795 CRA, L/R-HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower Below Tuff 2A. -- Cranium with two horn cores. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-408 9779 COR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-485 9856 SCP-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/26 253 - OVPP No Aves No
COP-12-48 9633 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Middle Below Tuff 1E. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/21 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-381 9752 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1E. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Lagomorpha No
OVPP-387 9758 CAL 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper Below Tuff 1E. -- Immature. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/24 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla No
Kar K II 1962.068/5811 760 42 - Kar. K R/L-HOR, CRA 1962 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II upper basal gravels 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 2. The authors indicate other horn cores are found from Bed II to undivided Beds III-IV and teeth occur from Beds I-IV. 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 Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus Holotype No
M. 17073 10386 An isolated lower canine tooth. 1953 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II B.K.II LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. Marked Old. B.K.II, 1953/443 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
FLK W 1969.82a 1070 55 - FLK W CRA, R/L-HOR, SKULL, VER 1969 104 - Unknown Above Tuff IF below the Sandy Conglomerate 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. The skull is a crushed cranium with horn cores. This is a skeleton found in association with several antilopine bones that the authors mention but do not provide specimens for. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
S. 38 1069 268 - 54 CRA , L/R-HOR 1968 104 - Unknown II Above the Lemuta Member 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 1. 137 - A. Gentry Yes Agutite and mafic volcanic glass. Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius No
OH 15 3730 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" C , M 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle Above level of OH 13. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. One canine, two molars. Canine is worn, molars are upper molars. "The teeth are exceedingly robust and show an unusual degree of wear. They were not found in close association; one molar and the canine lay approximately I ft. "Qelow the top of the tuff in which they occurred, whilst the second molar was 4 ft. distant and 1 ft. deeper in the deposit" (Leakey MD, 1971:232). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 7 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo No
OVPP-502 9873 HOR-f, CRA-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 7 meters below Tuff 1A. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-412 9783 SCP-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower 5 meters above Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Aves No
OVPP-414 9785 MTC 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania II Lower 5 meters above Tuff 1F. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae 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
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
FLK N I 1235 105 7 - FLK North CRA, MAX, P, M 1961 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 25. It is the same individual as FLK N I 1236. The specimen is crushed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Ectopotamochoerus dubius Holotype No
FLK N I 9394 932 7 - FLK North L-MTC 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in Gentry and Gentry (1978a) plate 19, figure 2 (lower). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Caprinae Caprini Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen to aff. Caprinae. No
FLK N I 1450 1490 7 - FLK North MTC 1960 104 - Unknown I 5 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 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
OVPP-Erinaceus 52 2054 7 - FLK North C 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi 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
OVPP-Mungos 2 80 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M, R-C, R-I 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Mungos sp. No
OVPP-Erinaceus 4 1947 7 - FLK North MAX-f, C, P 104 - Unknown I upper 4 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
018 3903 7 - FLK North L-MAN, C I 4 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen 6128 (molar) was found separately but determined to be from the same individual. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Ichneumia albicauda No
018 7664 7 - FLK North L-MAN, C I 4 Petter, G. 1973. Carnivores Pleistocenes du ravin d’Olduvai (Tanzanie). Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:43-100. Specimen 6128 (molar) was found separately but determined to be from the same individual. Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Ichneumia albicauda No
OVPP-672 10045 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 3m below carbonate that overlies Tuff IA channel fill. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/04 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-642 10015 CARA 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 3m above OVPP-637. -- 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/02 253 - OVPP No Reptilia Testudines No
OVPP-Erinaceus 91 2166 7 - FLK North CAL, (n=19) 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. The authors mention 19 calcanei from layers 3 and 4. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-338 8016 C 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper 3 meters below Tuff 1F. -- canine. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/11 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No