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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
OLD/63 3181 BK II KNM 2.68 8292 10 - BK PAT 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II -- Patella. Pleistocene. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD/62 068/6130 MCK II.S 8295 80 - MCK FEM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Surface? -- Proximal end of femur shaft. Pleistocene. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
11 234 10182 58 - KK L-ULNA-f II "Probably lower middle" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982:510). Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré C. 1982. Fossil Anhingas (Aves: Anhingidae) from early man sites of Hadar and Omo (Ethiopia) and Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania). Geobios 15: 505-515 Distal half of left ulna. "Place of conservation of material : The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to their countries of origin. The serial numbers such as 2780 are catalogue numbers of the Olduvai birds, and the data are kept at the University of Florida, Gainesville" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982:510). Figure description: "Fig. 14 - 15 -- Distal half of left ulna, 11 234, Lower Pleistocene, Kudu Korongo, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. (14) internal view. (15) external view." (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1982). 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Aves Suliformes Anhingidae Anhinga hadarensis No
M. 14981 12391 69 - GRK S L-Magnum 114 - Natural History Museum UK II Current location 17G; drawer 8; Leakey 1935 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Equidae No
OLD-169 12459 69 - GRK S d-M (4) 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-169; deciduous molar pillars; "Colld. & presd. Dr. LSB Leakey, 1935"; "Presumably associated OLDY GRK II 24.V.35" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae No
M 103971 12668 10 - BK L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-495; "BED II Surface Site BK 9.V.35" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
M 103965 12682 30 - DC L-FRLT, L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-508; "Bed II Surface Site DC" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
M 103966 12717 39 - MRC L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-556; "Bed II Surface Site MRC 10/5/35" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis 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
M 103976 12846 39 - MRC L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-736; "Bed II Surface MRC" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
M 103981 12955 22 - SC L-FRLT, L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-900; "Bed II Surface SC"; Leakey 1935 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
M 103969 12975 22 - SC L-FRLT, L-HOR 1935 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-944; left frontlet with horncore base; "Bed II Surface Site SC" 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius angusticornis No
OH 20 3735 11 - HWK 289 - 44 L-FEM-f 1959 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II or I Lowermost if Bed II, upper if Bed I Surface Day, MH. 1969. Femoral Fragment of a Robust Australopithecine from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Nature. 22: 230-233. Proximal end of large left femur missing head, greater and lesser trochanters damaged. Either Lower Bed II or Upper Bed I (Leakey MD, 1971:233). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus cf. boisei No
OVPP-Elephas 4 93 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author states that this species occurs from Bed 2-4. He does not give specifics of specimens recovered. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas recki No
OVPP-Diceros 1 97 UK 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II, III, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author does not give much information on elements preserved but indicates there are several specimens preserved in the BMNH. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotinae Rhinocerotini Diceros bicornis No
OVPP-Hippotigris 1 277 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV Leakey, LSB, 1951. Olduvai Gorge: a report on the evolution of the handaxe culture in Beds I-IV. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Hippotigris quagga boehmi No
OVPP-Ceratotherium 2 96 UK 1913 104 - Unknown II, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author indicates there are several specimens in the British Museum of Natural History. He also indicates a collection housed by Dr. Kohl-Larson. This specimen number may be changed when the original elements are observed in their respective collections. The author suggests that previously published accounts of this species may have actually been from deeper/older deposits such as Bed 5. There are no specifics of what types of elements have been preserved but several are implied. 135 - M. Hilzheimer 1925 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Perissodactyla Ceratomorpha Tapiromorpha Rhinocerotoidea Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotinae Rhinocerotini Ceratotherium simum germano-africanum 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-Clarias 3 228 10 - BK UK 104 - Unknown II, IV 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 Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias 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
OLD 165/365? BK II? 8063 10 - BK M 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. Upper M1. Fairly worn. Label on specimen eroded. In BM loan collection. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OVPP-Testudines 10 3077 24 - DK PLR 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) III 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 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
OVPP-Testudines 11 3078 24 - DK PERI 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) III -- 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
OH 51 3766 35 - GTC L-MAND-f, L-P, L-M 1974 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III Surface. -- Mandible fragment with P4 and M1. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus No
OH 59 3774 40 - JK L-I-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III -- Upper left central incisor crown. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
Old. 69 S. 194. rt. M2 3919 III 202/TII Leakey, M. G. 1982. Extinct large colobines from the Plio-Pleistocene of Africa. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 58:153-172. Most complete specimen of this species. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Colobinae Colobini Cercopithecoides kimeui No
M. 14561 135 20 - JK 1 HOR 1936 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 293 - A.T. Hopwood 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus niro Holotype - This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Damaliscus niro. No
JK 1258 III/2 8282 40 - JK I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III 2 -- Incisor. Card in bag with specimen states "OLD. Bed III, JK Primate? six teeth, five non -primate one hyaena (lower vert.?) 1254 : RM3 colobine ED 81" Specimen found in bag with JK 1254 71/I, 1257, JK 1259 VI/I, 1256 and JK 1255 VI /3. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD/70 553a WK III/4 8289 38 - WK FEM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III 4 -- Distal end of femur? and part of shaft. 2012/08/13 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
VFK III-IV 350 1067 44 - VFK SKULL, L/R-HOR, MAN, MAX 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) III 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 29, figure 2. 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 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius Holotype No
OF 68.274 762 43 - Bos K SKULL, HOR, M, P 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III, 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 from a juvenile. It is the same individual as the horn core OF 68.205. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
OF 68.205 763 43 - Bos K L-HOR-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III, 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 from a juvenile. It is the same individual as the skull and horn cores of specimen OF 68.274 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
OF 68.196 764 44 - VFK FRO, L/R-HOR-f 1961 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) III, IV 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. The authors indicate this specimen is almost certainly of Bed IV age. This specimen is labeled 'XDK IV'. It is "poory mineralized". It was found "high in Bed III-IV". 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
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
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
OH 34 3749 76 - JK W FEM , TIB-f 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III/ IV for Bed IV level = a Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Femur described as "slender" (Leakey MD, 1971) and shaft of tibia. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo sp. Slender bone No
OH 2 3718 27 - MNK 279 - 88 CRA-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III/IV Lowest horizon of Bed IVa. Surface. Found at head of MNK Gully where Beds II and IV are exposed. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Two cranial vault fragments. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Not found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo erectus Similar to OH 9 and OH 12. No
OH 22 3737 73 - VEK/MNK R-MAN-f , R-P , R-M , R-I-f , R-C-f 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III/IV Surface, indeterminate gravel Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Right half of mandible with roots of I1-C and complete P3-M2. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo cf. erectus No
OH 29 3744 76 - JK W M-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III/IVa Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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