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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-Panthera 1 273 UK 104 - Unknown I 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 Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Pantherinae Panthera pardus No
OVPP-Leo 1 274 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 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 Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Leo leo No
Unknown Acinonyx 1 275 11 - HWK UK 104 - Unknown I 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 Carnivora Feliformia Felidae Acinonyx sp. No
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-Hippotigris 1 277 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV 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 Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Hippotigris quagga boehmi No
OVPP-Notochoerus 1 280 UK 104 - Unknown II 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Tetraconodontinae Notochoerus dietrichi No
OVPP-Phacochoerus 1 281 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Suinae Phacochoerini Phacochoerus africanus 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
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
OVPP-Taurotragus 1 285 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Taurotragini Taurotragus oryx pachyceros No
OVPP-Tragelaphus 3 288 UK 104 - Unknown IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini Tragelaphus scriptus No
OVPP-Strepsiceros 1 289 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros strepsiceros No
OVPP-Strepsiceros 2 290 UK 104 - Unknown I 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros imberbis No
OVPP-Bularchus 2 291 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Bularchus arok This specimen was reclassified as Pelorovis oldowayensis by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
OVPP-Philantomba 1 292 UK 104 - Unknown IV The author indicates this species might be found in bed 4. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Cephalophinae Philantomba monticola No
OVPP-Hippotragus 2 293 UK 104 - Unknown IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus niro The author listed this species as H. nyiro. We assume they meant H. niro. No
OVPP-Hippotragus 3 294 UK 104 - Unknown II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus equinas This specimen was reclassified as Hippotragus gigas by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
OVPP-Hippotragus 4 295 UK 104 - Unknown II 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Hippotraginae Hippotragini Hippotragus niger No
OVPP-Parmularius 1 297 UK 104 - Unknown I 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens No
OVPP-Alcelaphus 1 298 UK 104 - Unknown II, III, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Alcelaphus kattwinkeli No
OVPP-Beatragus 1 299 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Beatragus hunteri No
OVPP-Gorgon 3 300 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, III, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Gorgon taurinus semiticus No
OVPP-Nesotragus 1 301 UK 104 - Unknown IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Nesotragus moschatus No
OVPP-Gazella 6 302 UK 104 - Unknown II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella gazella precursor No
OVPP-Phenacotragus 2 303 UK 104 - Unknown I, II, IV 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Neotragini Phenacotragus recki No
OVPP-Pultiphagonides 1 304 UK 104 - Unknown II 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Caprinae Caprini Pultiphagonides africanus No
OVPP-Tilapia 2 311 24 - DK UK 104 - Unknown I lower 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Actinopterygii Perciformes Cichlidae Pseudocrenilabrinae Tilapini Tilapia sp. No
M. 21484 868 51 - HEK L-HOR-f 1935 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. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Strepsicerotini Strepsiceros olduvensis This specimen was reclassified by Gentry and Gentry (1978) as Megalotragus kattwinkeli. No
BK II 1963.2718 875 10 - BK R-HOR-f 1963 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. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Alcelaphus howardi Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen as Megalotragus kattwinkeli. No
FLK N I 9394 932 7 - FLK North L-MTC 104 - Unknown I upper 5 Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in Gentry and Gentry (1978a) plate 19, figure 2 (lower). 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Caprinae Caprini Gentry and Gentry (1978) reclassified this specimen to aff. Caprinae. No
BK II 1952.1495 1036 10 - BK L-HOR 1952 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in Leakey (1965) plate 86, left most specimen. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen is of "Type A" variety and could "doubtfully be included in D. niro." No
BK II 067/5238 1037 10 - BK 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 86, 3rd from the left. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen is of "Type A" variety and could "doubtfully be included in D. niro." No
BK II 1957.876 1040 10 - BK L-HOR 1957 104 - Unknown II 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 Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen is of "Type A" variety and could "doubtfully be included in D. niro." No
BK II 067/5237 1051 10 - BK R-HOR II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. This specimen is pictured in plate 86, second from the left. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Antilopinae Antilopini Gazella Gentry and Gentry (1978) say this specimen is of "Type A" variety and could "doubtfully be included in D. niro." No
OLD 1472 3694 63 - JLK MAN, M, P 1957 104 - Unknown IV Leakey, L., and Whitworth, T. 1958. Notes on the genus Simopithecus, with a description of a new species from Olduvai. This specimen is pictured in plate 4, figure 1; plate 5, figure 1; plate 6, figure 1; plate 8, plate 9, and plate 10. All descriptions of this specimen indicate that the pictured specimen is the holotype. In plate 4, however, the description reads female S. jonathani so it is unclear whether this is the same specimen or not. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus jonathani Holotype No
OLD 580 3695 22 - SC MAN-f, M 1957 104 - Unknown II Leakey, L., and Whitworth, T. 1958. Notes on the genus Simopithecus, with a description of a new species from Olduvai. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cynocephalinae Simopithecus jonathani 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