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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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1690 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
BMNHM14350 9262 L-P 129 - National Natural History Museum, Naturalis, Leiden, The Netherlands (RMNH) III -- Left maxillary P2. 159 - R. Bernor Unknown Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equinae Hipparionini Eurygnathohippus Inventoried by Ray Bernor. Identified by Bernor as genus Eurygnathohippus. No
OVPP-281 9871 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Scree slope. -- Distal phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/27 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
M. 29460 755 L-MAN-f, L-P, L-M 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. The authors are uncertain of the excavation year but "III" is written on the fossil in yellow ink, which was characteristic of 1931 fossils. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
OVPP-Syncerus 2 766 46 - JK 2 M?, I?, P? 104 - Unknown 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus The authors describe teeth but not specifically which type(s) of teeth that are more likely to be from S. acoelotus than P. antiquus. No
JK2 III A.3271 826 46 - JK 2 d-L-P 104 - Unknown 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus kob Although this lower molar is larger than most of the K. kob lineage, the authors believe it belongs to K. kob. No
JK 2 III 068/6692 1116 46 - JK 2 L-P, L-M 104 - Unknown 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 37, figure 3. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. No
JK 2 III A. 2934 1117 46 - JK 2 R-MAN, R-M, R-P 104 - Unknown 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 37, figure 4. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. The authors suggest this specimen is "probably" Parmularius angusticornis or Damaliscus niro. It could also be from Connochaetes. No
JK 2 III A. 384 1187 46 - JK 2 MAN, P 104 - Unknown 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. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Indet. This specimen is from a smaller alcelaphine than Parmularius angusticornis or Damaliscus niro. No
OVPP-Clarias 34 2807 66 - SHK SS L-SPINE 1955 104 - Unknown III 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 This specimen is "probably" from Clarias. 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
OVPP-12 7690 MTP 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Scree slope -- Proximal MC1 157 - L. Hlusko 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-60 7738 L-MAX-f, L-P, L-M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III -- Left maxilla fragment P4-M2. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-62 7740 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III -- Distal phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-63 7741 P 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Sandstone near top of Bed III. -- Upper P2. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/29 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OLD-141 12432 PHX 114 - Natural History Museum UK III -- OLD-141; pedal bone Unknown Mammalia Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Elephantidae No
OVPP-138 7818 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Found at the very top of Bed II, eroded from Bed III. -- Distal phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-212 7891 R-MAN, P, M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III -- Right mandible with P4-M3. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-285 7963 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III -- 2 distal phalanges. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-297 7975 R-MAN-f , R-P 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III Found at Bed II / Bed III contact. -- Right mandible fragment with P2 - P4. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/08 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
M. 104107 13023 R-MAN, P, M (2) 6/5/35 114 - Natural History Museum UK III-IV -- Right mandible with P4, M2, and M3; OLD-1109; (Last edit SC 2019) Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini No
OVPP-24 7701 MAX-f, I, M, PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III, II Contact scree slope -- Maxilla fragment with four incisors, two molars and one intermediate phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/6/28 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
OVPP-158 7837 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III, IV -- Distal phalanx. Turtle? 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-167 7845 P 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III, IV Ten meters below Masek/Ndutu. -- Maxillary premolar. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae 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
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
VFK III-IV 150 1076 44 - VFK SKULL, HOR, M, P 104 - Unknown 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 one of several of a herd found in undivided beds III-IV. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius No
VFK III-IV 235 1077 44 - VFK HOR, M, P 104 - Unknown 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 one of several of a herd found in undivided beds III-IV. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius 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
OVPP-528 9899 L-MAN-f, d/L-P 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III/IV Red popcorn clays 20m below top of section. -- Juvenile left mandible with dP3 and dP4. Needs prep. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Reduncini No
OVPP-530 9901 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III/IV About 10m below silt/ash horizon in popcorn clays. -- Intermediate phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae No
OVPP-532 9903 PHX 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III/IV 3m below silt/ash in popcorn clays. -- Distal phalanx. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OVPP-172 7850 MTP 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III/IV Five meters below Masek/Ndutu. -- Proximal metapodial. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Carnivora No
OVPP-176 7854 P 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania III/IV Five meters below Masek/Ndutu. -- Maxillary premolar. 157 - L. Hlusko 2012/07/06 253 - OVPP No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
OLD/69 MRC S.132 8048 39 - MRC R-MAX, ZYG-f, P, M, C 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV Surface -- 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. Enclosed card reads "Simopithecus - Parts of maxilla and skull. (total of 43 frags.) MRC Bed 4 (S. 116, 126 & 132)." Specimen from same individual as S. 123, which is labeled "MRC IV surface S. 123". 2012/7/20 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus No
OLD 68/S.9 opp. S.C. IV S ? IV. C KNM 2.4.3 8066 22 - SC CRA-f, R-ZYG-f, L/R-MAX, R/L-M, R/L-P, R/L-C-f 1968 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV Surface? -- 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. Partial cranium: Left and right maxillae and right zygomatic fragment present. Right and left M1-3, P 3-4, and canines present. Crown of left canine broken off. Only root of right canine is preserved. Incisors not preserved. Left M3 crown broken off. Buccal side of left M2 crown broken off. Distal portion of buccal side of left M1 crown broken off. Needs preparation. 2012/07/23 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae No
OLDUVAI 1962 MLK IV Right Max Monkey 8263 34 - MLK R-MAX, P, M 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania IV -- Right maxilla with third premolar, and first and second molars. Card in bag with specimen states "Original type cabinet A". Cercopithecoides kimeni cranial vault+left and right maxilla". Specimen found in bag with specimen Olduvai. 1962 MLK IV left maxilla of monkey probably from the same individual. 2012/08/09 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OVPP-Clarias 33 2805 19 - SHK ARTC, PCG-f 1955 104 - Unknown IV 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-Cichlidae 23 2806 19 - SHK VER, SPINE 1955 104 - Unknown IV Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. It is unclear how many individuals are represented by these specimens. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes Cichlidae No