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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
OVPP-Giraffa 1 115 11 - HWK SKEL 104 - Unknown II lower Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This is a complete skeleton. Some parts are pictured in plates 33, 34, and 35. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Giraffinae Giraffini Giraffa gracilis Syntype 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-Giraffa 2 283 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Giraffinae Giraffini Giraffa capensis No
OVPP-Sivatherium 1 284 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, III, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Sivatheriinae Sivatherium olduvaiensis No
UCMP 42061 12374 CUBNAV 1948 276 - University of California Museum of Paleontology 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminatia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Giraffinae Giraffini Giraffa gracilis Yes
OVPP-Anancus 1 276 UK 104 - Unknown II 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 Proboscidea Tethytheria Behemota Elephantoidea Gomphotheriidae Anancinae Anancus kenyensis 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-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-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-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
OVPP-Hippopotamus 1 112 CRA, MAX, MAN 104 - Unknown I, II, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The author mentions several specimens from beds 1, 2, and 4. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops No
OVPP-Hippopotamus 2 282 24 - DK UK 104 - Unknown I lower All levels 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Hippopotamoidea Hippopotamidae Hippopotaminae Hippopotamus gorgops 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 8 3723 6 - FLK NN 283 - 45 PHX , CAR , TAR , CLA , AST , CAL , CUNE , CUB , NAV , M-f 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The molar-f was found on the surface and "probably also belongs to OH 8" (Leakey MD, 1971:228). Twelve associated foot bones including astragalus (has carnivore tooth marks (Leakey MD, 1971), calcaneus, cuboid and navicular, cuneiforms 1- 3, proximal ends with shafts, five metatarsals. Proximal ends of one metacarpal and three finger phalanges. One radius shaft. Clavicle with damaged articular ends. Foot articulates "almost perfectly with the OH 35 leg" (Susman, 1983:372). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype No
OH 13 3728 27 - MNK 287 - 88 "Skull Site" MAN , MAX , CRA-f 1963 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Lower Middle IIB 5 feet above chert horizon Paratpye. "This consists of a sub-adult skull, probably female, with the third molars coming into wear. It is represented by the greater part of the mandible, including the complete dentition, although the crowns of the incisors are damaged and the left ascending ram us is not preserved; the greater part of the maxillae, represented by two fragments both lacking the anterior portions; the greater part of the occipital; the right parietal and temporal; parts of the left parietal and temporal; together with a few frontal fragments and approximately fifty additional pieces which it has not been possible to fit together" (Leakey MD, 1971:231). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 5 pieces found at House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Paratype 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
263/1959 42 6 - FLK NN L/R-MAN, L/R-P, L/R-M, L/R-I, L/R-C 1959 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I middle Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 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. 20232 44 MAN 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No teeth were preserved with the mandible. The locality is not given. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Feliformia Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra 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
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
FLK N I 6140/1960 47 7 - FLK North HUM-f 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper 4 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Only the distal end of the humerus was recovered. It is severely crushed. 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 Carnivora Feliformia Hyaenidae Hyaeninae Crocuta ultra No
FLK N I 6307/1960 48 7 - FLK North ULNA-f 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper 4 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Only the proximal end of the ulna, much crushed, was recovered. 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
1510/1957 49 MAN-f, P, M 1957 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 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 No
1510/1957 4181 MAN-f, P, M 1957 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 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 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
OVPP-Hystrix 2 260 5 - FLK UK 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Specimens preserved are not details but is rare where it is found. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Yes Mammalia Rodentia Hystricognatha Hystricognathi Hystricidae Hystricinae Hystrix galatea 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
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
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-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-Macroscelididae 1 16 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. One juvenile specimen is found in layer 2 or 3. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae No
OVPP-Macroscelididae 2 254 5 - FLK UK 104 - Unknown I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. One juvenile specimen is found but not described. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae No
OVPP-Megadermidae 1 19 7 - FLK North MAX 104 - Unknown I upper 3 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Unidentified megadermid. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Megadermidae No
OVPP-Megadermidae 2 20 7 - FLK North MAN 104 - Unknown I upper 2 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Undetermined megadermid. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Chiroptera Megadermidae 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