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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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1334 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-41 4008 M, P, L-MAN-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Specimen label: OLD-88-24?1-5. Box #: OLD881-E. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
MNK II 2070 1112 27 - MNK MAN, L-M 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 36, figure 4. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. No
BK II 1963.941 1115 10 - BK MAN, L-M 1963 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 37, figure 2. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini The authors suggest this specimen is "probably" Parmularius angusticornis or Damaliscus niro. It could also be from Connochaetes. 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
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
FLK NNI 1011 8257 6 - FLK NN MAX, MAN, CRA-f, R/L-M, TOOTH-f, UK-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- 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. Maxilla, mandible, cranium fragment, right second and third molar, left third molar, tooth fragment and unknown fragment. Other card in bag states "FLK NNI 1011 + another individual there? M3 etc ED `81". 2012/08/09 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD 160 ?F Ha S 194111 8047 MAX, R/L-M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- 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. Specimen label reads 'OLD160 ?F Ha S194111'. Label is unclear. Maxilla with right M2-M3 and left M1-M3. 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLD 69/S. 133 DC 8071 30 - DC MAX, ZYG, R/L-I, L-C, R/L-P, R/L-M 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Maxilla with left I2-M3, left I1 is absent. Right I1-2 present. Roots of right P3-4, M1-2 present, some partially so. Right palatine is almost complete. Fragments of right and left zygomatics present, left zygomatic includes arch. Card in bag with specimen does not match specimen. 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. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OVPP-596 9969 MAX-f , L-M , R-P , R-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2 meters below Tuff IA.������������������������ -- Maxillary dentition with half of left maxillary M1, M2-3, right P4 and M1 with fragments of maxilla adhering. Found with OVPP-499.����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Cephalophini? No
OVPP-Clarias 28 2780 5 - FLK NRCR-f, PCG-f, VER-f, R/L-ARTC, L-DNTY, URHL, R/L-PAL, R/L-SPINE 1960 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=7. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Geochelone 4 3109 24 - DK NRL-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
OH 12 3727 18 - VEK 286 - 86 OCC , L/R-PAR , L/R-TEM-f , CRA-f , L-PAL , L-MAX , TOOTH-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV? a Surface. Found on eroded slope of Bed III. L-TEM-f from just below marker Tuff IVa. Leakey, L., and Leakey, M. 1964. Recent discoveries of fossil hominids in tanganyika: at Olduvai and near Lake Natron. Nature 202:5-7. Crowns of teeth not preserved. Bed IVA determined on basis of matrix adhering to L-TEM-f and PAL. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No L-TEM-f & PAL found with matrix adhering. Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus No
OH 11 3726 24 - DK 285 - 13 PAL , L-MAX-f , TOOTH-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Ndutu Lower Found in stream bed at bottom of gully near DK excavations. See curatorial notes for details. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Left half of palate and maxillary arch, crowns of teeth not preserved. "It is thus impossible to assign to any stratigraphic level, although the condition of the bone, which bears a pinkish tinge, is similar to that seen in fossil bones from a conglomerate at the head of the DK gully belonging to the lower Ndutu Beds" (Leakey MD, 1971:230). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo sp. No
1931 II 573 8518 R-CAL-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:63. Partial. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: XVI 1253. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1913 II 1027 8528 R-CAL-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:63. Partial. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 859.2. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
VI 306/1931 II 101 831 R-HOR, L-HOR-f, CRA 1931 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany II, IV 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. Reck believed this specimen came from Bed IV but Hay (in communication with the authors) suggested that adhering matrix indicates it could also have come from Bed II. 144 - H. Reck 273 - Reck expedition Unknown yes but not specified Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Thaleroceros radiciformis Holotype No
GTC IV 1962.068/6664 874 35 - GTC R-HOR, L-HOR-f, FRLT 1962 104 - Unknown IV 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 13, figure 1. Note, the teeth shown in the top of the image are from a different specimen. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkelli No
M 103972 12559 50 - GHTK R-HOR, R/L-FRLT 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-336; left and right frontlets with right basal horncore; "GHTK II S 31.V.35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
OVPP-Geochelone 1 3106 10 - BK R-HYPL-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II 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 No
M 103944 12739 78 - FLK S R-M (3), L-M 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-588; right upper M1, M2, and M3 and left M2; "OLD Y FLK II S 3/VII/35" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini No
OVPP-P-60 13341 R-MAN (P3-M1), L-MAN (C, P3-M1) -- OLD-57 BKII 1273. Cast Unknown Carnivora Yes
M 104227 13079 R-TIB-f, L-TIB-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-1163; proximal R-TIB-f and proximal L-TIB-f; likely same individual Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
1931 II 1266 8458 R/d-P, R-M, R-SKEL-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Label/Publication Taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 176. dP3-M2 erupting, juvenile, plus 1 frag. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
M. 14683 1345 R/L-, TUSK 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Hopwood, A. 1934. New fossil mammals from Olduvai, Tanganyika territory. Annals of the Magazine of Natural History. 10: 546-550. Two tusks, which are probably from the same individual represent the two paratypes. 293 - A.T. Hopwood Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Koiropotamus majus Paratypes No
OVPP-Clarias 17 2557 6 - FLK NN R/L-DRMS-f, SOCC, R/L-PTRC, FRO-f, R-EPHL-f, CRHL, L-QUAD, R/L-ARTC, R/L-SPINE 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=2 or 3. Authors state that size of the bones suggests 3 individuals. These specimens are from trench III. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
COP-12-101 9685 R/L-FEM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I -- Right and left distal femur and associated fragments. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/22 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-Clarias 36 2832 10 - BK R/L-FRO, MSEH, R-SUBO, CLEI-f, VER-f 1955 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. MNI=3 or 4. They are described as coming from OLD/53 BK II, 153. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. 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
HWK EE II 172 1297 37 - HWK EE R/L-HOR, FRLT 104 - Unknown II middle 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 Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
FLK NN I 10229 1194 6 - FLK NN R/L-HOR, FRO-f 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 shown in plate 40, figure 3. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini This specimen is similar to Raphicerus. No
Pel 5 1675 R/L-HOR, R/L-BOCC, R/L-OCC 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 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
Pel 5 5742 R/L-HOR, R/L-BOCC, R/L-OCC 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 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-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
COP-12-81 9665 101 - 19A R/L-HOR 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania -- Right and left horn core. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/22 254 - COP Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
MJTK II 1962.068/6652 901 52 - MJTK R/L-HOR-f, CRA-f, M, I 1962 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. The incisor may be a canine. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis No
068/6506 780 6 - FLK NN R/L-HOR-f, PAL 1961 104 - Unknown found in gravel postdating the Ndutu bed. Based on adhering matrix, it is probably from bed I or 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. This specimen (Horn cores) is from the same individual as the palate with specimen number 068/6502. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus sigmoidalis No
F. 3005 981 R/L-HOR-f 1941 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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. 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 No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
M. 22436 1506 R/L-MAN, I, P, M 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Two mandibles with full adult dentition that are probably from the same individual. It is pictured in plate 8A. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus recki No
M 103917 12634 35 - GTC R/L-MAN-f, d-P (5) 114 - Natural History Museum UK IV -- OLD-459; Partial left mandible with dP2 and dP4 and partial right mandible with dP2-dP4; "OLD Y GTC IV 27. (illegible)" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini No