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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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255 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. 14549 119 HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I, II, III Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Leakey (1965) indicated this specimen was found on the surface of Bed III, though the museum's label indicates Bed I and markings on the horn core indicate Bed II. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros grandis Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Tragelaphus strepsiceros grandis. No
OH 14 3729 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" CRA-f , FRO-f , R-PAR-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle B Surface. Inferred as same horizon as OH 13 (Leakey MD, 1971). 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. Juvenile (sutures unfused). Thin skull. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 11 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Juvenile, parietal is thin. No
OVPP-Hystrix 1 259 6 - FLK NN UK 104 - Unknown I middle 1 Leakey, LSB, 1951. Olduvai Gorge: a report on the evolution of the handaxe culture in Beds I-IV. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. Information about the specimens preserved is not given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Hystricognatha Hystricognathi Hystricidae Hystricinae Hystrix galatea 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
FLK N I 7500 41 7 - FLK North TIB 104 - Unknown I upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Image available from plate 13 comparing this lagomorph's tibia to other modern and extinct lagomorph tibiae. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Lagomorpha Leporidae Lepus No
M. 17090 10388 A broken fragment of the left side of a mandible with damaged first molar, but with second and third molars intact. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Holotype. Formerly Coryndon Museum No. F. 3666. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus olduvaiensis Yes
M. 14508 183 HOR 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Gentry (1966) suggests this specimen is "probably" from the surface. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella praecursor This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Antidorcas recki. No
FLK N I 1236 106 7 - FLK North MAN, P, M 1961 104 - Unknown I upper 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. FLK N I 1235 and 1236 are two parts of the same individual and are both considered the holotype. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Ectopotamochoerus dubius Holotype No
F. 3665 P.P.T. 4 124 16 - LK CRA, L-HOR-f, R-HOR 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Face and maxillae are missing. The holotype is pictured in plates 43 and 44. It was found on the surface between RK and LK. This eland is poorly represented at Olduvai. 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 No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus arkelli Holotype No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 1 262 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5, 6 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Elements preserved were not described by the author. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus sp. No
OVPP-Gerbillus 1 27 5 - FLK UK 104 - Unknown I 5, 6 and perhaps above but not explicitly stated. Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Elements preserved are not indicated by the author. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbilinae Gerbilini Gerbillus sp. No
OVPP-Hystrix 3 261 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 6 Details of elements preserved are not given by the author. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Yes Mammalia Rodentia Hystricognatha Hystricognathi Hystricidae Hystricinae Hystrix galatea No
M. 14683 10383 Two upper tusks, probably of the same individual. 1934 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I lower part, Middle Pleistocene Kamasian Pluvial LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. British Museum Palaeontology Department 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1942 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Paratypes. Originally classified as Koiropotamus majus (Hopwood, 1934). Reclassified as Potamochoerus majus (Leakey, 1942). Yes
M. 17073 10386 An isolated lower canine tooth. 1953 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II B.K.II LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. Marked Old. B.K.II, 1953/443 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
M. 17074 10385 A fragment of mandible with a well preserved lower third molar 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I top of Bed I F.L.K. LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
M. 17112 10387 An upper third molar in a fragment of maxilla. 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II F.L.K. Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suina Suoidea Suidae Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
BK II 1957.365 150 10 - BK R-FRO, R-HOR-f 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. Author explicitly states this specimen was excavated but does not provide level. 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 Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus equinus This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Damaliscus niro. No
FLK I 506/1960 46 5 - FLK HUM, RAD, ULNA 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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. All three bones are presumed by author to be from a single individual. 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 Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra No
M. 21445 178 R-FRO, R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Additional specimens have been found at FLK N I but are not described. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Beatragus antiquus Holotype No
OVPP-Nasilio 1 14 7 - FLK North MAX 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. Abundant in layers 5 and above and particularly abundant in layers 3 and 2. Several maxillary specimens found. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Nasilio sp. No
OVPP-Crocidura 2 9 7 - FLK North UK 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. A few specimens found in layers 3, 4, and 5. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Crocidura hindei No
OVPP-Herpestinae 1 70 7 - FLK North L-P 104 - Unknown I upper 1 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. A few isolated teeth perhaps belonging to the subfamily Herpestinae. Only the pre-molar is mentioned directly. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Herpestidae Herpestinae Author placed this taxon in Family Viverridae, but the specimen "perhaps" belongs to the subfamily Herpestinae. No
OVPP-Suncus 2 11 6 - FLK NN MAN, (n=242) 104 - Unknown I middle 1, 2, 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 242 lower jaw fragments occur in layers 1, 2, 3 but not in highest layers of Bed 1. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Crocidurinae Suncus lixus No
FLK I/E-G 393 4 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-Nycticeius 1 21 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 1 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 Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Nycticeius schlieffeni No
OVPP-Nycticeius 2 22 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 1, 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 Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Nycticeius schlieffeni This specimen resembles N. schlieffeni. No
OVPP-Pipistrellus 1 24 6 - FLK NN MAN 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 Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Microchiroptera Vespertilionoidea Vespertillionidae Vespertillioninae Pipstrellini Pipistrellus rueppelei This mandible resembles P. rueppelei but is somewhat larger and is roughly the size of P. dormeri from India. No
OVPP-Muridae 2 37 6 - FLK NN P, M, I, C 104 - Unknown I middle 1 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 No Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae No
OVPP-Grammomys 1 39 6 - FLK NN 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 Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Grammomys sp. No
M. 14675 45 BCR 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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 No Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra No
OVPP-Herpestes 1 71 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae Herpestes sp. The author mentions 4 other teeth found with this specimen but is not sure of their taxonomy. No
OVPP-Herpestes 2 73 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae Herpestes Author suggests it is just as likely to be in genus Bdeogale. No
OVPP-Genetta 1 74 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Viverrinae Genetta No
OVPP-Mungos 1 75 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae Mungos sp. No
OVPP-Herpestes 3 76 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae Herpestes No
OVPP-Herpestinae 2 77 7 - FLK North M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae No
OVPP-Herpestinae 3 78 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-d-M, R-P 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae No
OVPP-Genetta 2 79 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Viverrinae Genetta No
OVPP-Mungos 2 80 7 - FLK North R-MAN, R-P, R-M, R-C, R-I 104 - Unknown I upper 4 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae Mungos sp. No
OVPP-Herpestinae 4 81 6 - FLK NN R-MAN, R-d-P, R-C 104 - Unknown I middle 1 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 Herpestidae Herpestinae No