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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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3807 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
M. 15019 64 MAN-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. No locality given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis africanus No
OVPP-Viverridae 1 83 6 - FLK NN M 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 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 Viverridae No
OVPP-Civettictis 1 84 6 - FLK NN d-M 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 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 Viverridae Civettictis sp. No
OVPP-Civettictis 2 85 6 - FLK NN M 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Lower first molar. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Viverridae Civettictis sp. No
OVPP-Civettictis 3 86 6 - FLK NN L-MAN, L-d-P, L-P 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 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 Viverridae Civettictis sp. 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
OVPP-Crossarchus 1 88 6 - FLK NN R-MAN, R-P, R-M 104 - Unknown I middle 3 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 Carnivora Feliformia Viverridae Crossarchus No
OVPP-Elephas 2 91 8 - MK MAN, C, M, I, P 104 - Unknown I lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several other specimens found at this site in Bed I but probably fell from Bed II. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Specimen was "embedded in matrix." Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas africanavus No
OVPP-Elephas 3 92 MAN 104 - Unknown II lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Many mandibles and upper dentition were recovered from bed 2. This specimen is pictured in plate 18. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas exoptatus No
FLK I/E-G 394 1 5 - FLK L-RAM, L-P, L-M 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. 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 Primates Strepsirrhini Lorisiformes Galagidae Galago senegalensis No
OVPP-Elephas 5 251 M-f 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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 16. 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. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae Elephas africanavus No
OH 5 3713 5 - FLK 283 - 45 CRA , MAX , M , I , C , P 17 July - 6 August 1959 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Middle (Zinj.) 22 feet below the upper limit of Bed I (Tuff IF), approximately 20 feet above basalt. Leakey, L. S. B. 1959. A new fossil skull from Olduvai. Nature 184:491-493. Holotype. Almost complete cranium. Adolescent. One reconstructed fossil found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. Additional pieces from NMK unpublished. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Zinjanthropus boisei Holotype. This specimen was reclassified as Paranthropus boisei by Robinson (1960). No
OH 3 3719 10 - BK 280 - 94 d-C , L-d-M 1955 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Upper Upper part of BK channel which cuts into Tuff IID Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. In the first publication of these specimens (Leakey, LSB, 1958), Leakey described the teeth as a deciduous lower canine and a left deciduous upper M2. "This view was not shared by Robinson, von Koenigswald and others, who preferred to regard it as either a permanent or a deciduous upper molar of an australopithecine character" (Leakey, MD, 1970:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus Referred to as species boisei in Tobias (Olduvai Gorge volume IV, 1991). No
OH 19 3734 29 - FC W 288 - 89 M-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Middle 15 feet above chert horizon Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Half of a very worn molar. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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
OH 26 3741 55 - FLK W R-M 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I/II See curatorial notes. Upper Surface, .6 m below Tuff If at top of Bed I. Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Large unworn right L. M3. "Direct evidence as to the original position of the tooth was ... not obtained but, on the basis of the adhering matrix, which is indistinguishable from the limestone nodules overlying Tuff IF, it can be assumed to have come from the base of Bed II..." (Tobias, 1991:848). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Found embedded in small nodule of calcareous concretion. Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus boisei 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
OH 38 3753 22 - SC R-M , I , I 1971 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Upper >IID Fluvo-lacustrine Leakey, M.D. 1978. Olduvai fossil hominids:their stratigraphic positions and associations. In: Jolly, CJ, editor. Early hominids of Africa. London:Duckworth. P. 3-16. Molar is right M2. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus boisei No
OH 54 3769 72 - FLK Maiko Gully M-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface. -- Half of lower M1 or M2. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae No
OH 60 3775 5 - FLK M 1982 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface. -- Large M3. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus boisei No
OH 63 3778 6 - FLK NN M 1988 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I "Found near the OH 7 site" -R. Clarke 2011. Specimen is a lower molar. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus 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 68 3783 18 - VEK Mand-f, R-P-f 2001 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lower Mandible fragment with unerupted P4 and root of M1. Specimen is pictured in the middle in image 1. Specimen is shown in the middle of the top row in image 2. Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus africanus OH 13-like No
OH 70 3785 80 - MCK L-M-f 2002 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Lower Distrobuccal portion of upper M1 crown. Specimen is pictured on bottom right of image 1. Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus africanus OH 24-like No
OH 74 3789 72 - FLK Maiko Gully L-M 2007 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania I ID above Surface. Left M2, unerupted. Specimen is pictured second from the bottom left in image 1. Specimen is shown on right in image 2. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Australopithecus boisei No
OH 75 3790 5 - FLK R-HUM 2009 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania I Zinjanthropus 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) No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea hominidae A. cf. africanus/H. habilis OH 62-like No
OH 76 3791 55 - FLK W R-M 2010 127 - National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania II Upper? Surface. “Discovered by an Earthwatch project led by F.T. Masao in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and will be described elsewhere.” -R. Clarke (2011) Right upper M1 with roots. No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae 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
OVPP-Mammalia 3801 83 - FLK NW AST, (n=33), CAL, (n=73), FEM, (n=272), HUM, (n=186), I, (n=316), M, (n=108), MAN, (n=161), MAX, (n=68), MTP, (n=257), PHX, (n=77), PVG, (n=218), RAD, (n=55), SCP, (n=40), TIB, (n=395), ULNA, (n=76), VER, (n=595) I 20 Arcos, S., Sevilla, P., and Fernandez-Jalvo, Y. 2010. Preliminary small mammal taphonomy of FLK NW level 20 (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Quarternary Research 74:405-410. MNI is 198. Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". Unknown Mammalia Authors describe specimens as "small mammals". 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
OVPP-Sylvisorex 1 3815 7 - FLK North MAN, (n=2) I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 2 3816 7 - FLK North MAN I 3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 3 3817 7 - FLK North MAN, (n=3) I 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. The following specimen is specifically mentioned by the authors: Left mandible with lightly worn P4-M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 4 3818 7 - FLK North MAN, (n=9) I 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. The following specimens are specifically mentioned by the authors: A. Left mandible with lightly worn I2-M3 B. Left mandible with moderately worn M1-M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 5 3819 7 - FLK North MAN, (n=3) I 6 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. The following specimen is specifically mentioned by the author: Left mandibular fragment with I2-M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 6 3820 6 - FLK NN MAN I 3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Specimen is a "right mandibular fragment with moderately worn M1 and M2 and the alveoli of M3" 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex granti No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 7 3821 7 - FLK North MAN-f I 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Fragment of left mandible with almost unworn M1-M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 8 3822 5 - FLK MAN-f, (n=2) I Zinjanthropus Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 9 3823 6 - FLK NN MAN-f, (n=19) I 1 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 10 3824 6 - FLK NN HUM, MAN-f, (n=13) I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Authors do not specify if humerus is associated with any of the mandibles. The following specimen is specifically mentioned by the author: Fragment of left mandible with unworn M1-M3. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No