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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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2823 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. 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-Elephantulus 39 2885 7 - FLK North TFB-f, (n=7) 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I, II 1, 2, 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. The authors describe seven distal tibiofibulae from layers 1, 2, and 123. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi No
M. 29421 1029 L-HOR-f 1932? 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. The authors describe this specimen as "poorly preserved." 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius rugosus No
JK II A. 345 1073 46 - JK 2 HOR-f 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. The authors describe this specimen as "probably a distal half of a horn core." 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius No
M. 14568 734 L-HOR-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. The authors indicate the "Bed I" written on the label must be a mistake. Bed 4 is implied based on the color of the specimen and the register. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus scriptus No
OF 68.196 764 44 - VFK FRO, L/R-HOR-f 1961 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) III, IV upper 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 indicate this specimen is almost certainly of Bed IV age. This specimen is labeled 'XDK IV'. It is "poory mineralized". It was found "high in Bed III-IV". 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
OVPP-Erinaceus 73 2130 7 - FLK North RAD-f, (n=14) 104 - Unknown I upper 3, 4, 5 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. The authors mention 14 proximal ends of radii from layers 3-5 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
OVPP-Erinaceus 60 2101 7 - FLK North HUM-f, (n=17) 104 - Unknown I upper 2, 3, 4 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1973. The early Pleistocene hedgehogs from Olduvai, Tanzania. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 3:7-42. The authors mention 17 fragments of humeri from layers 2-4. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Erinaceoidea Erinaceidae Erinaceinae Erinaceus broomi No
NN42 3080 CARA-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "NN" though this is not a known locality. Perhaps it comes from FLK NN. 152 - W. Auffenberg 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
NN42 6847 CARA-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "NN" though this is not a known locality. Perhaps it comes from FLK NN. 152 - W. Auffenberg 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
F558 6848 CARA-f, NRL-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "SI" though this is not a known locality. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone sp. The author puts this specimen in Geochelone, species B. No
F558 3081 CARA-f, NRL-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) -- The authors say this specimen comes from "SI" though this is not a known locality. 152 - W. Auffenberg Unknown Reptilia Testudines Cryptodira Testidinoidea Testudinidae Geochelone sp. The author puts this specimen in Geochelone, species B. No
OVPP-Clarias 8 2449 24 - DK R-FRO, SPINE, RAY, VER 1962 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. The authors suggest these elements came form a single individual. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
M. 21453 1032 10 - BK HOR-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II 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 suggest this specimen may belong to the same individual as M. 21450. 137 - A. Gentry No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus niro No
JK2 III A. 78 872 46 - JK 2 CRA-f 1962 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. The braincase of this specimen was separated from the horn core. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkelli No
302/1955 59 C-f 1955 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. The canine is damaged. Author does not give information on the locality. 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 Felidae Pantherinae Panthera indet. No
FLK N I 966 1504 7 - FLK North MTC-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 1 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. The distal end of this specimen is preserved. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
OVPP-Elephantulus 28 2874 7 - FLK North MAN-f, P-d, P, C-d, I 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. The incisor is unerupted. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi No
OVPP-Elephantulus 29 2875 7 - FLK North MAN-f, P-d 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. The incisor is unerupted. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi No
MJTK II 1962.068/6652 901 52 - MJTK R/L-HOR-f, CRA-f, M, I 1962 104 - Unknown II 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 incisor may be a canine. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis No
M. 21449 149 R-HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I or II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The label indicates Bed I but Bed II is written on the specimen and in the register according to the authors. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus equinus This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Hippotragus gigas. It may be a female H. gigas rather than a male H. equinus. 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
FLK N I 1276 1494 7 - FLK North MTC-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 1 Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. The proximal end of the specimen is preserved. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella No
M. 14541 839 HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. The specimen could possibly be in situ as it is described as being found "in" Bed I. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas No
M. 14533 840 HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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. The specimen could possibly be in situ as it is described as being found "in" Bed I. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas No
BK II 1953.067/5235 P.P.R. 2 147 10 - BK HOR-f 1953 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. The specimen had been extensively gnawed by a rodent prior to fossilization. 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 Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus niger This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Damaliscus niro. No
FLK II 1961.068/6663 833 5 - FLK L-HOR, CRA-f 1961 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) II middle 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 specimen is pictured in plate 10, figure 2. The other specimen pictured is DK I 067/5496. 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. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown "limestone with with sand-size volcanic detritus" Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus gigas No
M. 21429 211 18 - VEK CRA, L/R-HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II? Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The specimen was badly crushed prior to fossilization. It is pictured in plate 91. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini This specimen was reclassified as Parmularius cf. angusticornis by Gentry and Gentry (1978). Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen's horn cores have attributes of P. antiquus as well. No
124 2808 19 - SHK L-FRO, L-SPHT 1957 104 - Unknown II Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. The two bones are in articulation. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
124 6579 19 - SHK L-FRO, L-SPHT 1957 104 - Unknown II Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. The two bones are in articulation. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
M. 22407 1571 19 - SHK HUM-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Gentry, A. W. 1966 Fossil Antilopini of East Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History, Geology. 12: 43-106. 9 pls. There are two juvenile humerus specimens with the number M. 22407. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus recki No
OVPP-Percifomes 1 2777 6 - FLK NN SPINE-f, VER-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 2 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. These fishes are from an unidentified family of percoid fishes. It is unknown how many individuals are represented. They were recovered from trench III. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes No
OVPP-Clarias 38 2847 68 - GRC SOCC, R-SUPP, R-COR, VER-f 104 - Unknown Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. These specimens represent two individuals. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OH 33 3748 6 - FLK NN CRA-f 1969 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I Surface Tobias, PV. 1991. The Skulls, endocasts and teeth of Homo habilis. Cambridge: University Press. Thin vault fragments. Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo Very thin skull No
OVPP-650 10023 MAN-f, M 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2.5m above Tuff IA. -- Third mandibular molar with mandible fragment adhering. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/07/03 253 - OVPP No Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotragini No
OVPP-Pelorovis 40 1872 AXIS-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This axis is missing a transverse process. It seems to belong to a complete row of cervical vertebrae. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No
BK II 1955 P.P.T. 1 159 10 - BK CRA, L/R-HOR-f 1955 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. This holotype specimen is pictured in plate 67. The author gave the specimen number as P.P.T. 3, but Gentry and Gentry (1978a) gave the correct number as P.P.T. 1. BK II was added to this specimen number to avoid confusion as there is another specimen with number P.P.T. 1. 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. 138 - E. Schwarz 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus angusticornis Holotype - This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Parmularius angusticornis. No
M. 17090 253 10 - BK L-MAN-f, M 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This holotype was described in a previous monograph (Leakey, 1958). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Suini Mesochoerus olduvaiensis Holotype No
M. 21451 128 18 - VEK CRA-f, R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) III, IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This holotype was found at the junction of Beds 3 and 4. It is pictured in plates 49 and 50. [This species is documented at SHK II, FLK N I, and BK II (Leakey, 1971).] 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Gorgon olduvaiensis Holotype - Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Connochaetes taurinus olduvaiensis. No
SHK II 25 1819 19 - SHK R-RAD-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania II Gentry, A. W. 1967. Pelorovis oldowayensis Reck, an extinct bovid from East Africa: British Museum. pp. 245-299 This individual is a juvenile. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Pelorovis oldowayensis No