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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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3807 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
UNLABELED SPECIMEN OLD? 3 8176 R/L-TEM-f 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- Temporal bone fragments of right and left petrous pyramids. Simopithecus? Fragments in bag in package with bags of other unlabeled specimens and bags of Simopithecus oswaldi specimens, some of which are type specimens. 2012/07/31 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea No
1931 II 1260 9098 R/MAN-f, R/d-P, R/d-M 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Coronoid to symphysis, p3-p4 erupting, m1-m3 erupting, juvenile. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 176. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP Tyto 1 10177 6 - FLK NN RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET , PHX I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Authors do not specify specimen numbers. "Radius, 1 proximal and 1 distal part; ulna, 2 distal parts; carpometacarpus, 1 almost complete and l distal part; l phalanx of the wing; tarsometatarsus, 1 distal part and 2 distal fragments; 4 pedal phalanges" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:23). "Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Tyto alba cf. affinis No
OVPP Tyto 2 10178 7 - FLK North RAD-f , ULNA-f , CARMET-f I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Authors do not specify specimen numbers. "Coracoid, 2 upper parts; ulna, 1 distal part; carpometacarpus, 5 distal parts;tibiotarsus, 1 distal part; tarsometatarsus, 1 proximal and 2 distal parts; 21 pedal phalanges" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:23). "Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Tyto alba cf. affinis No
OVPP-L-1646 10509 298 - CMK Rib fragment of large mammal 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Unknown Mammalia Yes
OLD-7 12807 RIB-f, M, MAX-f, TOOTH, TIB (7 total) 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-7; not fossilized; micro mammal; distal articular end of tibia is preserved Unknown Yes
OVPP-P-6 13281 Several tympanic bullae + a few dental frags. , , -- FLKNNI Bed V GRAVEL. Original. Looks Modern, Not Fossilized Unknown Carnivora Felidae Yes
1931 II 1028 8831 SKEL-f, HUM-f, FEM-f, TIB-f, VER-f, RIB-f, RAD-f, ULNA-f, SCP-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:8-104. Partial skeleton, juvenile, incl. hum, fem, tib, ver, rib, rad, uln, sca, all fragmentary. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 1100. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 1292 8835 SKEL-f, TEM-f, PMAX-f, VER-f 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany -- 11 skeletal frags, temporal, premax, ver. Reck Field No.: none. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP-499 9869 SKULL, AXIS, CER, PHX, HUM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower 2 meters below Tuff 1A. -- Skull with associated post-crania. Pieces labeled A through P. A = cranium, B= right mandible fragment, C= left mandible fragment, D= right mandibular symphysis through P4, E= left mandibular symphysis, F-J= teeth, K= axis, L-M+ cervical vertebrae, O= intermediate phalanx, P= distal humerus. Two additional bags of bones and bone fragments that were found at OVPP-499 locality with carnivore breakage and tooth marks. 157 - L. Hlusko 253 - OVPP Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae No
OVPP-Papio 1 26 SKULL, CRA, MAX 1913 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. The assignment to Bed 2 is based on the author's analysis though he does not seem certain. The skull is from a juvenile. 131 - A. Remane 1925 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Primates Anthropoidea Haplorhini Cercopithecoidea Cercopithecidae Cercopithecinae Papionini Papio sp. No
OF 68.274 762 43 - Bos K SKULL, HOR, M, P 1962 122 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania III, 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. This specimen is from a juvenile. It is the same individual as the horn core OF 68.205. 137 - A. Gentry 264 - Leakey family expedition No Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Syncerus acoelotus No
VFK III-IV 150 1076 44 - VFK SKULL, HOR, M, P 104 - Unknown III, 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. This specimen is one of several of a herd found in undivided beds III-IV. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius No
M. 14688 215 SKULL, L-HOR, M, P 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) 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 93 and 94. It was found in the 1931-1932 field season. The locality was not provided. 293 - A.T. Hopwood 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown "pebbly and consolidated sandy matrix of dark colour" Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Caprinae Caprini Pultiphagonides africanus Holotype - This specimen was reclassified as Connochaetes africanus by Gentry and Gentry (1978). No
VFK III-IV 350 1067 44 - VFK SKULL, L/R-HOR, MAN, MAX 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) 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. This specimen is pictured in plate 29, figure 2. 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 Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Damaliscus agelaius Holotype No
358/1960 50 SKULL, MAN, L/R-P, L/R-M 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Specimen is crushed. No locality is given. 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 Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris No
M. 14689 164 11 - HWK SKULL, MAN 1931 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I upper Hopwood, A. 1934. New fossil mammals from Olduvai, Tanganyika territory. Annals of the Magazine of Natural History. 10: 546-550. This holotype is pictured in plate 70. It was excavated 15 ft. below upper Bed 1 in a "tuffaceous deposit." It was found near the mouth of HWK. 293 - A.T. Hopwood Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Parmularius altidens Holotype No
OVPP-Bularchus 1 127 10 - BK SKULL, MAX, CRA, HOR 104 - Unknown II Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Several specimens including crania and post-cranial elements have been found in BK II. One example is pictured in plate 48. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 264 - Leakey family expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Bovinae Bovini Bularchus arok Gentry and Gentry (1978a) renamed this specimen as P. oldowayensis. No
S. 202 783 96 - 63 SKULL, P, M, I 1970 104 - Unknown 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. This nearly complete skull with dentition is pictured in plate 6. 137 - A. Gentry Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Reduncinae Reduncini Kobus sigmoidalis This specimen may belong to the species K. ellipsiprymnus. No
FLK N I 6252/1960 51 7 - FLK North SKULL, P, M 1960 105 - National Museum and House of Culture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (?) I upper Leakey LSB. 1965. Olduvai Gorge 1951-1961, Volume 1: Fauna and Background. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Specimen is 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 Unknown Mammalia Carnivora Caniformia Cynoidea Canidae Canis mesomelas latirostris No
OVPP-Clarias 20 2570 6 - FLK NN SKULL-f, ETHM-f, MSEH, L-FRO, R/L-SPHT, R/L-PSTM, SOCC, R/L-PAL, R-OPER-f, R/L-DRMS, HMND, URHL, RAY, R-QUAD, L-ARTC, R-DNTY-f, R/L-CLEI, R/L-SPINE, VER 104 - Unknown I 3 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=2. These specimens are from trench VI. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Clarias 19 2565 6 - FLK NN SKULL-f, ETHM-f, MSEH-f, R-PTRC, SPHT-f, FRO, SOCC, R/L-PAL, OPER, R/L-EPHL, URHL, RAY, R/L-QUAD, R/L-ARTC, R/L-DNTY, R/L-CLEI, R/L-SPINE, VER 1961 104 - Unknown I 3 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=5. Multiple of each element is represented. These specimens are from trench VI. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Clarias 24 2667 6 - FLK NN SKULL-f, R-SUBO, MSEH, SOCC, R/L-FRO, L-DRMS, PAL, R-QUAD, R/L-ARTC, R-DNTY, URHL, R/L-RAY-f, CLEI-f, VER-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 2, 3 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=49. Multiple of each element is represented, authors do not specify number for every element. Specimens were found in trench III. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 6 2901 7 - FLK North SKULL-f, R/L-M 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. This specimen is picture in figure 1-1 and 1-2. 147 - C. Denys Yes Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegeri Holotype? No
OVPP-Heterocephalus 3 2902 7 - FLK North SKULL-f, R/L-M 104 - Unknown I upper Denys, C. 1989. A new species of bathyergid rodent from Olduvai Bed I (Tanzania, Lower Pleistocene). Neue Jahrbuecher Geologica Palaeontologica 5:257-264. This specimen is pictured in figure 1-3. 147 - C. Denys Unknown Mammalia Rodentia Bathyergidae Heterocephalinae Heterocephalus jaegeri Hypodigm No
OVPP-Clarias 12 2479 6 - FLK NN SKULL-f, SOCC-f, PTRC-f, FRO, MSEH-f, ETHM, URHL-f, EPHL, CRHL, HMND, QUAD, ARTC, DNTY, PAL, CLEI, COR, OPER, SPINE, PCG-f, VER, PTYG-f, RAY-f 1960 104 - Unknown I 3 Greenwood, P., and Todd, E. 1970. Fish remains from Olduvai. In: Fossil Vertebrates of Africa,vol. 2 New York: Academic Press. pp. 225-241. MNI=62. Multiple of each element is represented; authors do not specify numbers for each element. It is unclear which specimens belong together. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Yes Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias sp. No
OVPP-Clarias 31 2791 33 - SWK SOCC, ETHM, MSEH 1952 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. MNI=3. They are from trench V. 151 - Greenwood and Todd Unknown Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias No
OVPP-469 9840 STNM 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Upper -- Sternebrae. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/25 253 - OVPP No Mammalia No
1931 II 599 8837 STNM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:62. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: XVI 1333. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 615 8838 STNM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:62. Juvenile. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 161. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 616 8839 STNM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:62. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VI 314. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
1931 II 629 8840 STNM 1913 116 - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (BSPG), Munich, Germany Black E. 1937. Fossil Antelopes of Olduvai. Scientific results of the Olduvai Expedition 1913:62. Label/publication taxon ID: Gorgon taurinus semiticus. Reck Field No.: VII 41 / 413. Number on label is VII 41, on specimen is written VII 413. Schwarz lists a sternal bone as VII 41. 273 - Reck expedition Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae Alcelaphinae Alcelaphini Megalotragus kattwinkeli Inventoried by Faysal Bibi in 2012. No
OVPP Bubo 2 10184 24 - DK TBT-f , COR-f , HUM-f I Brodkorb P., Mourer-Chauviré, C. 1984. Fossil owls from early man sites of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Ostrich; Journal of African Ornithology 55:17-27. Distal tibiotarsus, two fragments of coracoid and humerus. Authors do not specify specimen numbers and refer to these specimens as "referred material". Place of conservation of the material: The fossils are currently on deposit at the University of Florida, Department of Zoology, and will later be returned to Tanzania" (Brodkorb and Mourer-Chauvire, 1984:17, 19). Unknown Aves Strigiformes Strigidae Bubo leakeyae No
OLD-1897 13222 TEM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1897; petrous portion fragment Unknown Mammalia No
OLD-1898 13223 27 - MNK TEM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK IV -- OLD-1898; petrous portion fragment; "Oldoway MNK IV 6.V.35" Unknown Mammalia No
OLD-1899 13224 TEM-f 114 - Natural History Museum UK -- OLD-1899; petrous portion fragment Unknown Mammalia No
OVPP-P-19 13295 TEM, middle ear ossicles -- NN tympanic bulla and middle ear ossicles. Looks modern, not fossilized Unknown Yes
M. 17071 10384 The greater part of a mandible. 1953 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) II Chellean I Living Site LSB Leakey. 1958. Fossil Mammals of Africa: Some East African Pleistocene Suidae. British Museum. No. 14. marked Old. B.K.II, 1953/454; Brit. Mus. Palaeont. Dept. 130 - L.S.B. Leakey 1958 Yes Mammalia Artiodactyla Suiformes Suoidea Suidae Potamochoerus majus Yes
OVPP-571 9944 TIB, HUM-f 126 - Mary Leakey Camp, Antiquities Station Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania I Lower Sandstone 15m above ignimbrite, below Tuff IA but not sure how far below. -- Immature. 157 - L. Hlusko 2013/06/30 253 - OVPP Yes Y Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Bovoidea Bovidae No
M. 14687 1350 TIB-f, FEM-f, FIB-f 106 - Natural History Museum UK (?) I Hopwood, A. 1934. New fossil mammals from Olduvai, Tanganyika territory. Annals of the Magazine of Natural History. 10: 546-550. This specimen is described as a "partial hind-limb". Whether it is a tibia, femur, or fibula is unknown. 293 - A.T. Hopwood Unknown Mammalia Artiodactyla Ruminantia Giraffoidea Giraffidae Helladotherium olduvaiensis Paratype No