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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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7924 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-Papio 2 245 6 - FLK NN CRA, MAX 1962 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Skull is severely crushed. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Papio indet. No
OVPP-Clarias 18 2564 6 - FLK NN SKULL 1961 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. Skull is broken into several fragments. This specimen is from trench III. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
BM(NH) M21460 3881 SKULL Gentry, A., Gentry, A., and Mayr, H. 1995. Rediscovery of fossil antelope holotypes (Mammalia, Bovidae) collected from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1913. Bayerische Staatssammlung fur Palaontologie und Skull in is Munich. Cast of holotype in Natural History Museum in London, and now duplicated in the National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki No
BM(NH) M21460 7642 CRA Gentry, A., Gentry, A., and Mayr, H. 1995. Rediscovery of fossil antelope holotypes (Mammalia, Bovidae) collected from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1913. Bayerische Staatssammlung fur Palaontologie und Skill in is Munich. Cast of holotype in Natural History Museum in London, and now duplicated in the National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Antidorcas recki No
1931 II 1045 8832 SKEL-f, ULNA-f, RIB-f, L/d-P 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- Skeletal fragments: uln, rib, L upper dP2-dP3, juvenile. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 1097. Ulna is adult, so may not belong to same indiv. as deciduous teeth. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
M. 22434 1556 CUBNAV 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. Six naviculo-cuboids are labeled as M. 22434. 137 - A. Gentry 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus recki 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
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
OLD FLK (S) 1959 596 8145 72 - FLK Maiko Gully ULNA 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Surface. -- Shaft of Ulna. The other card in bag states " OLD 1959 FLK (S) 569. This does not look like baboon ulna" Card written by Whitehead 86.). Pleistocene. 2012/07/30 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OLD 61/7421 FLK N I Tr.III LS/1-2 8118 7 - FLK North L-FEM 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 1-2 Tr. III surface -- Shaft of left femur. 2012/07/27 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Y Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
067/5478 MK I 8140 8 - MK HUM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I -- Shaft fragment of distal end of right humerus. Pleistocene. Card in bag states "Loc: Olduvai, L.S.B Leakey 67, MK I surface OLD 60". 2012/07/30 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
OVPP-L-1538 10469 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Shaft fragment Unknown Mammalia Yes
OVPP-Python 7 1925 VER 104 - Unknown Rage J. 1973. Fossil snakes from Olduvai, Tanzania. In: Fossil vertebrates of Africa, vol. 3:1-6. Several vertebrae are found but it is unclear how many individuals are represented. Specimen(s) are pictured in plate 1, figures 1 and 2. 149 - J. C. Rage Unknown Reptilia Squamata Boidae Python sebae No
OVPP-Muridae 1 35 5 - FLK P, M, I, C, MAN, MAX 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. Several unidentified murids 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Chelonia 8 696 27 - MNK UK 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved.Both sites at MNK contain Chelonia specimens. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 3 691 5 - FLK UK 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 4 692 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 5 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 5 693 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown II lower Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 6 694 14 - HWK E UK 104 - Unknown II lower All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 7 695 29 - FC W UK 104 - Unknown II middle both levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 9 697 31 - EF-HR UK 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 10 698 10 - BK UK 104 - Unknown II upper Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Chelonia 1 229 6 - FLK NN UK 104 - Unknown I middle 1, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 140 - E.E. Williams 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cheloniidae Chelonia sp. No
OVPP-Chelonia 2 340 24 - DK UK 104 - Unknown I lower All levels Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several tortoises are represented in beds 1, 2, and 4. There is no mention of how many specimens or what elements are preserved. 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Reptilia Chelonia Indet. No
OVPP-Kobus 10 788 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. Several teeth are mentioned by the authors as occurring in Bed II. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus This is a reduncine that may belong to K. sigmoidalis or K. ellipsiprymnus. No
OVPP-Cichlidae 3 2478 6 - FLK NN SPINE-f 1963 104 - Unknown I 1 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. Several spines are present but it is unclear how many individuals are represented in this specimen. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes Cichlidae No
OVPP-Elephantulus 1 15 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus sp. The absence of lower 3rd molar suggests it is not in the genus Nasilio. No
OVPP-Myosorex 1 5 6 - FLK NN UK 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens were found but were not described. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Myosorex robinsoni No
OVPP-Muridae 3 38 6 - FLK NN P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I middle 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens of unidentified murids. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Muridae 4 40 7 - FLK North P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens of unidentified murids are present. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae The author is unsure of the taxonomy. No
OVPP-Bularchus 1 127 10 - BK SKULL, MAX, CRA, HOR 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens including crania and post-cranial elements have been found in BK II. One example is pictured in plate 48. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Bularchus arok Gentry and Gentry (1978a) renamed this specimen as P. oldowayensis. No
OVPP-Varanus 1 231 UK 104 - Unknown I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens have been found but no description is given. 140 - E.E. Williams 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Reptilia Squamata Scleroglossa Anguimorpha Varanoidea Varanidae Varanus No
OVPP-Suncus 3 12 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens from FLK N I 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus orangiae No
OVPP-Erinaceus 16 1959 7 - FLK North P 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 17 1960 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 18 1961 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 19 1962 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 20 1963 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 21 1964 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 22 1965 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, '123' Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. Several specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5 and layer "123". 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No