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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 103953 12876 CRA-f (4) 1931 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-771 310 - Hopwood Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Behemota Bovoidea Bovidae cf. Connochaetes Unknown
M 103957 12885 HOR-f (2) 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-784; Bed II S Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Connochaetes cf. Connochaetes Unknown
M 103979 12637 R-FRLT, R-HOR 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-462; right frontlet with horncore base Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius cf. P. angusticornis Unknown
OLD-4 12581 MAN-f, M (3) 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-4; left mandibular ramus with three molars; "Davies 19 July 1977" Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Anomaluromorpha Pedetidae Pedetes cf. P. surdaster Unknown
M 103890 12865 R-M-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-759; lower right M3 partial; "OLD Y S.C. II S 9.V.35" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini cf. Syncerus Unknown
M 103878 12912 FEM-f, CRA, CER (6) 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-816; partial cranium, FEM-f, cervical vertebrae; "Bed I Surface" Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini cf. Syncerus (Faysal) Unknown
M 103989 12548 314 - THC S HOR-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK I -- OLD-309; basal horncore fragment; "OLD Y THC Bed I S " Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus niro D. niro, type A No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 7 3821 7 - FLK North MAN-f I 123 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Fragment of left mandible with almost unworn M1-M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 8 3822 5 - FLK MAN-f, (n=2) I Zinjanthropus Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 9 3823 6 - FLK NN MAN-f, (n=19) I 1 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 10 3824 6 - FLK NN HUM, MAN-f, (n=13) I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Authors do not specify if humerus is associated with any of the mandibles. The following specimen is specifically mentioned by the author: Fragment of left mandible with unworn M1-M3. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 11 3825 6 - FLK NN HUM, MAN-f, (n=44) I 3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Authors do not specify if humerus is associated with any of the mandibles. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 12 3826 6 - FLK NN FEM, (n=6), HUM, (n=27), MAN-f, (n=139) I 2/3 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. Authors do not provide MNI. Includes holotype for the species, a right mandibular ramus with complete dentition. The following specimens are specifically mentioned by the authors: a. Right mandible with base of I1 and worn I2-M3 b. Right mandible with unworn M1-M3 and alveoli of I2 and P4 c. Right mandible with M1, M2 and alveoli of M3 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). No
OVPP-Sylvisorex 13 3827 24 - DK MAN-f I 2 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1979. Soricidae (Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 67:329-379. 150 - Butler and Greenwood Unknown Mammalia Insectivora Soricoidea Soricidae Sylvisorex olduvaiensis Described as Suncus cf. lixus by Butler & Greenwood (1965). 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
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
OLD-278 12532 19 - SHK TOOTH-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK II -- OLD-278 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Hippopotamidae found in Hippopotamus drawer Unknown
MNK II 1963.104 + 106 645 32 - MNK Main SKULL, SKEL-f 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey MD. (1971) Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 3: excavations in Beds I & II 1960-1963. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Gentry and Gentry (1978a) assigned this specimen to the species level (kob). They give the specimen numbers as follows: skull: 104, 106 mandibles: 107 (R), 108 (L) Maxilla: 103 (R) Altas: 110 Metacarpal: 105 (R) Ulna: 109 (R) Femur: 101 (R) Tibia: 102 (R) Metatarsal: 100 (R) 142 - M. D. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus Gentry and Gentry (1978) assigned this to the species Kobus kob. 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
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
M. 21469 120 12 - CK R-HOR-f 1935 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) IV Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. No information is given about elements preserved. 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
M 103924 12623 HOR-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-448 Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Tragelaphini genus Taurotragus or Tragelaphus Unknown
OLD-1931 13242 HOR-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1931 Unknown Mammalia Giraffidae or Bovidae Yes
OLD-1932 13243 UK-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1932 Unknown Mammalia Giraffidae or Bovidae Yes
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
F. 3662 068/5812 P.P.T.2 138 CRA-f, L-HOR, R-HOR-f 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 specimen is pictured in plates 56 and 58. The adhering matrix suggests this specimen must come from above the Lemuta member. 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 gigas Holotype No
M. 21430 174 21 - HWK Castle SKULL, R-HOR-f 1932 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) IV Base of Bed 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 75 and 76. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius rugosus Holotype 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
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
VI 306/1931 II 101 831 R-HOR, L-HOR-f, CRA 1931 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany II, 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. Reck believed this specimen came from Bed IV but Hay (in communication with the authors) suggested that adhering matrix indicates it could also have come from Bed II. 144 - H. Reck 273 - Reck expedition Unknown yes but not specified Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Thaleroceros radiciformis Holotype No
OVPP-Elephantulus 3 2849 7 - FLK North MAN-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 1 Butler, P., and Greenwood, M. 1976. Elephant-shrews (Macroscelididae) from Olduvai and Makapansgat. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 4. pp. 1-56. 150 - Butler and Greenwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Insectivora Macroscelididae Elephantulus fuscus leakeyi Holotype No
01. R. L3-95 3121 6 - FLK NN R-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I 3 Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 1, figure A. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Oenomys olduvaiensis Holotype No
01. R. K-199 3124 5 - FLK R-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 2, figures A and B. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Arvicanthis primaevus Holotype No
01. R. K-533 3125 5 - FLK R-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 2, figure E. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Aethomys lavocati Holotype No
01. R. M5-222 3126 7 - FLK North R-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I 5 Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 2, figure C. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Pelomys dietrichi Holotype No
01. R. L2-2 3127 L-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 3, figures A and B. This species is found at FLK NI, layers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; FLK NNI, layers 1, 2, and 3; FLK I, Zinjanthropus layer. It is unclear where individual specimens come from, however. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Mus petteri Holotype No
01. R. K-314 3130 5 - FLK R-MAX-f, M 104 - Unknown I middle (Zinjanthropus) 22 feet below the upper limit of bed I. Jaeger, J.J. 1976. Les rongeurs (Mammalia, Rodentia) du Pleistocene inferieur d’Olduvai Bed I (Tanzanie) 1ere Partie: Les Murides. Fossil vertebrates of Africa 4:58-120. This specimen is pictured in plate 3, figure D. 153 - J. Jaeger Yes Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Murinae Zelotomys leakeyi Holotype No
068/6514 3711 34 - MLK CRA, MAX-f, R/L-P, R/L-M 104 - Unknown II middle Leakey, M. G., and Leakey, R. E. F. 1973. Pleistocene Colobinae from East Africa. Leakey, L. S. B., Savage, R. J. G., Coryndon, S. C., eds. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 3. London: Academic Pr This specimen is pictured in plate 3. 154 - Leakey and Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Colobinae Colobini Cercopithecoides kimeui Holotype No
OH 7 3722 6 - FLK NN 283 - 45 MAN , L-PAR , R-PAR-f , M , OCC-f , L/R-TEM-f , PHX , CAR 1960 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania I 3 On surface of clay immediately overlying Tuff IB. 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. Holotype. "Jonny's Child". Juvenile. Mandible with partial dentition and unerupted R/L-M3, almost complete left parietal and fragments of right parietal, left and right petrous portions (temporal) , "sundry small skull fragments ... [and] twenty-one bones of the hand, including the trapezium, scaphoid and a number of phalanges" (Leakey, MD, 1971:228). "One upper molar, a terminal phalanx, and a broken capitate bone, found on the surface, probably also belong to this individual" (:226). Specimen previously housed at National Museum of Kenya. 264 - Leakey family expedition Yes Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Hominoidea Hominidae Homininae Hominini Homo habilis Holotype No
OVPP-Tatera 4 3964 7 - FLK North CRA-f, M I 1 Denys, C. 1989. Two new gerbillids (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Olduvai Bed I (Pleistocene, Tanzania). Neues Jahrbuch f Specimen is described as the "anterior skull fragment with the left and right upper molar rows" Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Myomorpha Myodonta Muroidea Muridae Gerbillinae Taterillini Tatera gentryi Holotype No