Associate Professor Steven Salisbury
Associate Professor

Steven Salisbury

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+61 7 336 58548

Background

Dr Steve Salisbury is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Queensland, where he is head of the UQ Dinosaur Lab and Chair of First Nations Engagement. He is also Research Associate at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Associate Editor for the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and a Scientific Board member of the Jurassic Foundation.

Steve studied biology and geology at the University of Sydney, receiving the Edgeworth David Award for Palaeontology in 1993. He then moved to the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he completed his Honours thesis on fossil crocodilians from Murgon, south-eastern Queensland. Continuing at the UNSW, Steve travelled to Germany and the UK to complete a PhD on crocodilian locomotor evolution. He returned to Australia in 2000 to pursue a life-long dream of searching for Australian dinosaurs, and joined The University of Queensland in 2003 as a Postdoctoral Fellow.

Steve's research focuses on the evolution of Gondwanan continental vertebrates, in particular dinosaurs and crocodilians. He is also interested in vertebrate biomechanics and using extant animals to better understand the anatomy, behaviour and evolution of extinct ones. His field-based research takes him to various parts of Queensland, the Kimberley, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Availability

Associate Professor Steven Salisbury is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Geology

Research interests

  • Dinosaurs

    Australasian Cretaceous dinosaur faunas; evolution of Australasian ornithopods, thyreophorans, sauropods and theropods; Gondwanan dinosaur palaeobiogeography; dinosaur trackways

  • Crocodiles

    evolution of Australasian crocodilians; origin of modern crocodilians; crocodilian locomotor evolution; crocodilian lung ventilation; crocodilian growth dynamics

  • Biomechanics

    locomotor evolution of dinosaurs and crocodilians; vertebral bracing in archosaurs; feeding behaviour in crocodilians

  • Other research interests

    evolution of Australian Cretaceous fishes; evolution of Australian pterosaurs; geology and taphonomy of Australian Cretaceous dinosaur localities; palaeopathology in fossil archosaurs

  • Cultural Heritage

    First Nations cultural heritage, Traditional Knowledge, ethnography,

Research impacts

The results of Steve's research have been widely covered in the media, and he provides regular commentary on palaeontological research via the Australian Science Media Centre. His research has been the impetus for the establishment of a $1.5 million interpretive centre in the outback town of Isisford, central-western Queensland, and recently helped to secure National Heritage Listing of dinosaur tracks on the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, which subsequently contributed to the collapse of a $40+ billion LNG development.

Steve's honours include the Rea Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2009, Carnegie Museum of Natural History), an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry) (2003-2006, The University of Queensland), an Australian Postgraduate Award (1995-1998, University of NSW), a Postgraduate Research Scholarship (1996-1998, German Academic Exchange Service) and The Banks Alecto Fellowship (1996-1997, The Royal Society, London). He has also received research funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Australian Geographic Society, the Linnean Society of NSW, Isisford Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, Winton Sire Council, Queensland Museum, The Western Australian Greens, The Wilderness Society and Land Rover Australia.

Search Professor Steven Salisbury’s works on UQ eSpace

112 works between 1996 and 2024
All (112) Journal Article (72) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (31) Other Outputs (4)

1 - 20 of 112 works

Featured

2013

Journal Article

Detrital zircon age constraints for the Winton Formation, Queensland: contextualizing Australia's Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas

Tucker, Ryan T., Roberts, Eric M., Hu, Yi, Kemp, Anthony I. S. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2013). Detrital zircon age constraints for the Winton Formation, Queensland: contextualizing Australia's Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas. Gondwana Research, 24 (2), 767-779. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2012.12.009

Detrital zircon age constraints for the Winton Formation, Queensland: contextualizing Australia's Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas

Featured

2013

Journal Article

First evidence of ankylosaurian dinosaurs (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian-Cenomanian) Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia

Leahey, Lucy G. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2013). First evidence of ankylosaurian dinosaurs (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian-Cenomanian) Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. Alcheringa, 37 (2), 249-257. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2013.743703

First evidence of ankylosaurian dinosaurs (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian-Cenomanian) Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia

Featured

2013

Journal Article

Reevaluation of the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Tracksite (Late Albian-Cenomanian Winton Formation, Central-Western Queensland, Australia): No Longer a Stampede?

Romilio, Anthony, Tucker, Ryan T. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2013). Reevaluation of the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Tracksite (Late Albian-Cenomanian Winton Formation, Central-Western Queensland, Australia): No Longer a Stampede?. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 33 (1), 102-120. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2012.694591

Reevaluation of the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Tracksite (Late Albian-Cenomanian Winton Formation, Central-Western Queensland, Australia): No Longer a Stampede?

2024

Journal Article

A synopsis of the Early Miocene St Bathans Fauna from New Zealand

Worthy, Trevor H., Paul Scofield, R., De Pietri, Vanesa, Salisbury, Steven W., Schwarzhans, Werner, Hand, Suzanne J. and Archer, Michael (2024). A synopsis of the Early Miocene St Bathans Fauna from New Zealand. Geobios. doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2024.03.002

A synopsis of the Early Miocene St Bathans Fauna from New Zealand

2023

Journal Article

A second specimen of the pterosaur Thapunngaka shawi from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland, Australia

Richards, Timothy M., Stumkat, Paul E. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2023). A second specimen of the pterosaur Thapunngaka shawi from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland, Australia. Cretaceous Research, 154 105740. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105740

A second specimen of the pterosaur Thapunngaka shawi from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of North West Queensland, Australia

2023

Journal Article

The last Baru (Crocodylia, Mekosuchinae): a new species of ‘cleaver‐headed crocodile’ from central Australia and the turnover of crocodylians during the Late Miocene in Australia

Yates, Adam M., Ristevski, Jorgo and Salisbury, Steven W. (2023). The last Baru (Crocodylia, Mekosuchinae): a new species of ‘cleaver‐headed crocodile’ from central Australia and the turnover of crocodylians during the Late Miocene in Australia. Papers in Palaeontology, 9 (5) e1523. doi: 10.1002/spp2.1523

The last Baru (Crocodylia, Mekosuchinae): a new species of ‘cleaver‐headed crocodile’ from central Australia and the turnover of crocodylians during the Late Miocene in Australia

2023

Journal Article

Migrations, diversifications and extinctions: the evolutionary history of crocodyliforms in Australasia

Ristevski, Jorgo, Willis, Paul M. A., Yates, Adam M., White, Matt A., Hart, Lachlan J., Stein, Michael D., Price, Gilbert J. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2023). Migrations, diversifications and extinctions: the evolutionary history of crocodyliforms in Australasia. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 47 (4), 1-46. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2023.2201319

Migrations, diversifications and extinctions: the evolutionary history of crocodyliforms in Australasia

2023

Journal Article

An annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods

Poropat, Stephen F., Bell, Phil R., Hart, Lachlan J., Salisbury, Steven W. and Kear, Benjamin P. (2023). An annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 47 (2), 129-205. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2023.2228367

An annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods

2023

Journal Article

New age constraints support a K/Pg boundary interval on Vega Island, Antarctica: Implications for latest Cretaceous vertebrates and paleoenvironments

Roberts, Eric M., O’Connor, Patrick M., Clarke, Julia A., Slotznick, Sarah P., Placzek, Christa J., Tobin, Thomas S., Hannaford, Carey, Orr, Theresa, Jinnah, Zubair A., Claeson, Kerin M., Salisbury, Steven, Kirschvink, Joseph L., Pirrie, Duncan and Lamanna, Matthew C. (2023). New age constraints support a K/Pg boundary interval on Vega Island, Antarctica: Implications for latest Cretaceous vertebrates and paleoenvironments. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 135 (3-4), 867-885. doi: 10.1130/B36422.1

New age constraints support a K/Pg boundary interval on Vega Island, Antarctica: Implications for latest Cretaceous vertebrates and paleoenvironments

2022

Journal Article

Softening the steps to gigantism in sauropod dinosaurs through the evolution of a pedal pad

Jannel, Andréas, Salisbury, Steven W. and Panagiotopoulou, Olga (2022). Softening the steps to gigantism in sauropod dinosaurs through the evolution of a pedal pad. Science Advances, 8 (32) eabm8280, 1-14. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm8280

Softening the steps to gigantism in sauropod dinosaurs through the evolution of a pedal pad

2022

Journal Article

Cranial anatomy of the mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami Willis, 1993

Ristevski, Jorgo, Weisbecker, Vera, Scanlon, John D., Price, Gilbert J. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2022). Cranial anatomy of the mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami Willis, 1993. The Anatomical Record, 306 (2), 239-297. doi: 10.1002/ar.25050

Cranial anatomy of the mekosuchine crocodylian Trilophosuchus rackhami Willis, 1993

2022

Journal Article

Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand

Worthy, Trevor H., Scofield, R. Paul, Salisbury, Steven W., Hand, Suzanne J., De Pietri, Vanesa L. and Archer, Michael (2022). Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand. Journal of Ornithology, 163 (3), 643-658. doi: 10.1007/s10336-022-01981-6

Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand

2022

Journal Article

A new species of Manuherikia (Aves: Anatidae) provides evidence of faunal turnover in the St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand

Worthy, Trevor H., Scofield, R. Paul, Salisbury, Steven W., Hand, Suzanne J., De Pietri, Vanesa L., Blokland, Jacob C. and Archer, Michael (2022). A new species of Manuherikia (Aves: Anatidae) provides evidence of faunal turnover in the St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand. Geobios, 70, 87-107. doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2021.08.002

A new species of Manuherikia (Aves: Anatidae) provides evidence of faunal turnover in the St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand

2022

Journal Article

Saurischian dinosaur tracks from the Upper Triassic of southern Queensland: possible evidence for Australia’s earliest sauropodomorph trackmaker

Romilio, Anthony, Klein, Hendrik, Jannel, Andréas and Salisbury, Steven W. (2022). Saurischian dinosaur tracks from the Upper Triassic of southern Queensland: possible evidence for Australia’s earliest sauropodomorph trackmaker. Historical Biology, 34 (9), 1834-1843. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2021.1984447

Saurischian dinosaur tracks from the Upper Triassic of southern Queensland: possible evidence for Australia’s earliest sauropodomorph trackmaker

2021

Other Outputs

Australia’s oldest dinosaur was a peaceful vegetarian, not a fierce predator

Salisbury, Steve and Romilio, Anthony (2021, 10 21). Australia’s oldest dinosaur was a peaceful vegetarian, not a fierce predator The Conversation

Australia’s oldest dinosaur was a peaceful vegetarian, not a fierce predator

2021

Journal Article

A new species of crested pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae) from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of Richmond, North West Queensland, Australia

Richards, Timothy M., Stumkat, Paul E. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2021). A new species of crested pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae) from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of Richmond, North West Queensland, Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 41 (3) e1946068, e1946068. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2021.1946068

A new species of crested pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae) from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) of Richmond, North West Queensland, Australia

2021

Journal Article

First record of a tomistomine crocodylian from Australia

Ristevski, Jorgo, Price, Gilbert J., Weisbecker, Vera and Salisbury, Steven W. (2021). First record of a tomistomine crocodylian from Australia. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 12158 , 12158. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91717-y

First record of a tomistomine crocodylian from Australia

2021

Journal Article

A probable skeleton of Isisfordia (Crocodyliformes) and additional crocodyliform remains from the Griman Creek Formation (Cenomanian, New South Wales, Australia)

Hart, Lachlan J., Bell, Phil R., Smith, Elizabeth T., Mitchell, D. Rex, Brougham, Tom and Salisbury, Steven W. (2021). A probable skeleton of Isisfordia (Crocodyliformes) and additional crocodyliform remains from the Griman Creek Formation (Cenomanian, New South Wales, Australia). Journal of Paleontology, 95 (2), 351-366. doi: 10.1017/jpa.2020.98

A probable skeleton of Isisfordia (Crocodyliformes) and additional crocodyliform remains from the Griman Creek Formation (Cenomanian, New South Wales, Australia)

2021

Journal Article

Footprints of large theropod dinosaurs in the Middle–UpperJurassic (lower Callovian–lower Tithonian) Walloon Coal Measures of southern Queensland, Australia

Romilio, Anthony, Salisbury, Steven W. and Jannel, Andréas (2021). Footprints of large theropod dinosaurs in the Middle–UpperJurassic (lower Callovian–lower Tithonian) Walloon Coal Measures of southern Queensland, Australia. Historical Biology, 33 (10), 2135-2146. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1772252

Footprints of large theropod dinosaurs in the Middle–UpperJurassic (lower Callovian–lower Tithonian) Walloon Coal Measures of southern Queensland, Australia

2020

Journal Article

Australia’s prehistoric ‘swamp king’: revision of the Plio-Pleistocene crocodylian genus Pallimnarchus de Vis, 1886

Ristevski, Jorgo , Yates, Adam M. , Price, Gilbert J. , Molnar, Ralph E. , Weisbecker, Vera and Salisbury, Steven W. (2020). Australia’s prehistoric ‘swamp king’: revision of the Plio-Pleistocene crocodylian genus Pallimnarchus de Vis, 1886. PeerJ, 8 e10466, e10466. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10466

Australia’s prehistoric ‘swamp king’: revision of the Plio-Pleistocene crocodylian genus Pallimnarchus de Vis, 1886

Past funding

  • 2014 - 2017
    Walking with dinosaurs in the Kimberley: mapping the Cretaceous landscapes of the Dampier Peninsula
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Determining the relative roles of dispersal and vicariance in the assembly of the New Zealand Fauna (ARC Discovery Project Administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2023
    Small vertebrates from the Albian-Cenomanian of Queensland - testing hypotheses of provincialism among Australia's mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas
    Isisford Shire Council
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Establishment of a digital Scanscope system for virtual microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Small vertebrates from the Albian-Cenomanian of Queensland - testing hypotheses of provincialism among Australia's mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Dinosaurs of Bladensburg National Park, central-western Queensland
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Replication of a fossil fish specimen from Isisford, central-western Queensland
    Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History Japan
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    The Isisford dinosaur fauna
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Life and environments of the Lower Cretaceous Winton Formation, western Queensland: The Winton Dinosaur Project
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Steven Salisbury is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Distribution, abundance, and palaeoecological insights into theropod tracks of the Broome Sandstone, Western Australia

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New insights into the preservation of the Cretaceous vertebrate fauna of the Eromanga Basin in Central West Queensland

    Principal Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Steven Salisbury directly for media enquiries about:

  • Archosaurs
  • Australian dinosaurs
  • Biomechanics and dinosaurs
  • Crocodiles - palaeontology
  • Crocodilian fossils
  • Dinosaurs
  • Evolution
  • Fossil crocodilians
  • Fossils in Queensland
  • Functional morphology
  • Palaeontology
  • Queensland fossils
  • Systematics - palaeontology
  • Vertebrate palaeontology

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