Overview
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
Research interests
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Dinosaurs
Australasian Cretaceous dinosaur faunas; evolution of Australasian ornithopods, thyreophorans, sauropods and theropods; Gondwanan dinosaur palaeobiogeography; dinosaur trackways
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Crocodiles
evolution of Australasian crocodilians; origin of modern crocodilians; crocodilian locomotor evolution; crocodilian lung ventilation; crocodilian growth dynamics
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Biomechanics
locomotor evolution of dinosaurs and crocodilians; vertebral bracing in archosaurs; feeding behaviour in crocodilians
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Other research interests
evolution of Australian Cretaceous fishes; evolution of Australian pterosaurs; geology and taphonomy of Australian Cretaceous dinosaur localities; palaeopathology in fossil archosaurs
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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.
Works
Search Professor Steven Salisbury’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Other Outputs
Dinosaur footprints show predators as big as T. rex stomped across Australia 160 million years ago
Romilio, Anthony and Salisbury, Steve (2020, 06 19). Dinosaur footprints show predators as big as T. rex stomped across Australia 160 million years ago The Conversation
2020
Journal Article
A review of Australia’s Mesozoic fishes
Berrell, Rodney W., Boisvert, Catherine, Trinajstic, Kate, Siversson, Mikael, Alvarado-Ortega, Jesús, Cavin, Lionel, Salisbury, Steven W. and Kemp, Anne (2020). A review of Australia’s Mesozoic fishes. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 44 (2), 1-26. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2019.1701078
2019
Journal Article
Isisfordia molnari sp. nov., a new basal eusuchian from the mid-Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia
Hart, Lachlan J., Bell, Phil R., Smith, Elizabeth T. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2019). Isisfordia molnari sp. nov., a new basal eusuchian from the mid-Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia. PeerJ, 7 (6) e7166, e7166. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7166
2019
Journal Article
“Keep your feet on the ground”: simulated range of motion and hind foot posture of the Middle Jurassic sauropod Rhoetosaurus brownei and its implications for sauropod biology
Jannel, Andréas, Nair, Jay P., Panagiotopoulou, Olga, Romilio, Anthony and Salisbury, Steven W. (2019). “Keep your feet on the ground”: simulated range of motion and hind foot posture of the Middle Jurassic sauropod Rhoetosaurus brownei and its implications for sauropod biology. Journal of Morphology, 280 (6) jmor.20989, 849-878. doi: 10.1002/jmor.20989
2018
Other Outputs
Dinosaurian tracks and related geological features of the Reddell Point—Entrance Point area, Broome, Western Australia; palaeontological survey as part of the 2018 Broome Safe Boat Harbour site assessment process
Salisbury, S. W. and Romilio, A. (2018). Dinosaurian tracks and related geological features of the Reddell Point—Entrance Point area, Broome, Western Australia; palaeontological survey as part of the 2018 Broome Safe Boat Harbour site assessment process. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2018
Journal Article
The palaeoenvironment of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia
Fletcher, Tamara L., Moss, Patrick T. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2018). The palaeoenvironment of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia. PeerJ, 6 (9) e5513, e5513. doi: 10.7717/peerj.5513
2018
Journal Article
A standard protocol for documenting modern and fossil ichnological data
Falkingham, Peter L., Bates, Karl T., Avanzini, Marco, Bennett, Matthew, Bordy, Emese M., Breithaupt, Brent H., Castanera, Diego, Citton, Paolo, Díaz-Martínez, Ignacio, Farlow, Jim O., Fiorillo, Anthony R., Gatesy, Stephen M., Getty, Patrick, Hatala, Kevin G., Hornung, Jahn J., Hyatt, James A., Klein, Hendrik, Lallensack, Jens N., Martin, Anthony J., Marty, Daniel, Matthews, Neffra A., Meyer, Christian A., Milàn, Jesper, Minter, Nicholas J., Razzolini, Novella L., Romilio, Anthony, Salisbury, Steven W., Sciscio, Lara, Tanaka, Ikuko ... Belvedere, Matteo (2018). A standard protocol for documenting modern and fossil ichnological data. Palaeontology, 61 (4), 469-480. doi: 10.1111/pala.12373
2018
Journal Article
Taphonomy of Isisfordia duncani specimens from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) portion of the Winton Formation, Isisford, central-west Queensland
Syme, Caitlin E. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2018). Taphonomy of Isisfordia duncani specimens from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) portion of the Winton Formation, Isisford, central-west Queensland. Royal Society Open Science, 5 (171651) 171651, 171651. doi: 10.1098/rsos.171651
2018
Journal Article
A new small-bodied ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from a deep, high-energy Early Cretaceous river of the Australian-Antarctic rift system
Herne, Matthew C., Tait, Alan M., Weisbecker, Vera, Hall, Michael, Nair, Jay P., Cleeland, Michael and Salisbury, Steven W. (2018). A new small-bodied ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from a deep, high-energy Early Cretaceous river of the Australian-Antarctic rift system. PeerJ, 5 (1) e4113, 1-77. doi: 10.7717/peerj.4113
2018
Journal Article
A new, large-bodied omnivorous bat (Noctilionoidea: Mystacinidae) reveals lost morphological and ecological diversity since the Miocene in New Zealand
Hand, Suzanne J, Beck, Robin M D, Archer, Michael, Simmons, Nancy B, Gunnell, Gregg F, Scofield, R Paul, Tennyson, Alan J D, De Pietri, Vanesa L, Salisbury, Steven W and Worthy, Trevor H (2018). A new, large-bodied omnivorous bat (Noctilionoidea: Mystacinidae) reveals lost morphological and ecological diversity since the Miocene in New Zealand. Scientific reports, 8 (1) 235, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18403-w
2017
Journal Article
Investigating the stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments for a suite of newly discovered mid-Cretaceous vertebrate fossil-localities in the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia
Tucker, Ryan T., Roberts, Eric M., Darlington, Vikie and Salisbury, Steven W. (2017). Investigating the stratigraphy and palaeoenvironments for a suite of newly discovered mid-Cretaceous vertebrate fossil-localities in the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia. Sedimentary Geology, 358, 210-229. doi: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.05.004
2017
Journal Article
The Dinosaurian ichnofauna of the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian–Barremian) Broome Sandstone of the Walmadany Area (James Price Point), Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia
Salisbury, Steven W., Romilio, Anthony, Herne, Matthew C., Tucker, Ryan T. and Nair, Jay P. (2017). The Dinosaurian ichnofauna of the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian–Barremian) Broome Sandstone of the Walmadany Area (James Price Point), Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 36 (sup1), 1-152. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1269539
2017
Journal Article
A multidisciplinary approach to digital mapping of dinosaurian tracksites in the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian-Barremian) Broome sandstone of the Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia
Romilio, Anthony, Hacker, Jorg M., Zlot, Robert, Poropat, George, Bosse, Michael and Salisbury, Steven W. (2017). A multidisciplinary approach to digital mapping of dinosaurian tracksites in the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian-Barremian) Broome sandstone of the Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia. PeerJ, 2017 (3) e3013, e3013. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3013
2016
Journal Article
Depositional environment of the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Winton formation at Isisford, central-west Queensland, Australia, inferred from sandstone concretions
Syme, Caitlin E., Welsh, Kevin J., Roberts, Eric M. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2016). Depositional environment of the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) Winton formation at Isisford, central-west Queensland, Australia, inferred from sandstone concretions. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 86 (9), 1067-1082. doi: 10.2110/jsr.2016.67
2016
Journal Article
Sedimentological reappraisal of the Leaellynasaura amicagraphica (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) holotype locality in the Lower Cretaceous of Victoria, Australia with taphonomic implications for the taxon
Herne, M. C., Tait, A. M. and Salisbury, S. W. (2016). Sedimentological reappraisal of the Leaellynasaura amicagraphica (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) holotype locality in the Lower Cretaceous of Victoria, Australia with taphonomic implications for the taxon. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 71, 121-148.
2016
Conference Publication
New approaches to evaluating the Australian dinosaur tracksites of Lark Quarry, Queensland and of the Broome Sandstone, Western Australia
Romilio, A., Hacker, J. and Salisbury, S. W. (2016). New approaches to evaluating the Australian dinosaur tracksites of Lark Quarry, Queensland and of the Broome Sandstone, Western Australia. Spring Meeting of the Korean Earth Science Society and Gyeongnam Goseong International Dinosaur Symposium, Gyeongnam, South Korea, 2016. Seoul, South Korea: Gyeongnam Educational Welfare Center.
2016
Conference Publication
Palaeoenvironmental setting of non-avian dinosaur tracks in the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian–Barremian) Broome Sandstone of Reddell Beach, Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia
Gray, S., Romilio, A., Hacker, J., Chamberlain, P. and Salisbury, S. W. (2016). Palaeoenvironmental setting of non-avian dinosaur tracks in the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian–Barremian) Broome Sandstone of Reddell Beach, Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia. Palaeo Down Under 2, Adelaide, Australia, July 2016. Sydney, Australia: Geological Society of Australia.
2016
Conference Publication
Simulated range of motion and hindfoot posture of Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926 (Sauropoda, Gravisauria)
Jannel, A., Panagiotopoulou, O., Romilio, A., Nair, J. P. and Salisbury, S. W. (2016). Simulated range of motion and hindfoot posture of Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926 (Sauropoda, Gravisauria). Palaeo Down Under 2, Adelaide Australia, July 2016. Sydney, NSW Australia: Geological Society of Australia.
2016
Conference Publication
Living by the Eromanga Sea: taphonomy of crocodyliform and osteichthyan fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Winton Formation at Isisford, Queensland
Syme, C. E., Salisbury, S. W., Welsh, K. J. and Roberts, E. M. (2016). Living by the Eromanga Sea: taphonomy of crocodyliform and osteichthyan fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Winton Formation at Isisford, Queensland. Palaeo Down Under 2, Adelaide Australia, July 2016. Sydney, NSW Australia: Geological Society of Australia.
2016
Conference Publication
Reconstruction of the motion and hindfoot posture of Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926 (Sauropoda, Gravisauria)
Jannel, Andréas, Panagiotopoulou, Olga, Romilio, Anthony , Nair, Jay P. and Salisbury, Steven W. (2016). Reconstruction of the motion and hindfoot posture of Rhoetosaurus brownei Longman, 1926 (Sauropoda, Gravisauria). The Palaeontological Association 60th Annual Meeting, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Lyon, France, 79, 14-17 December, 2016.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Steven Salisbury is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Postgraduate projects (Honours and PhD) in the Vertebrate Palaeontology and Biomechanics Lab:
Our lab’s research focuses on the evolution of Gondwanan continental vertebrates, in particular dinosaurs and crocodilians. We are also interested in vertebrate biomechanics and using extant animals to better understand the anatomy, behaviour and evolution of extinct ones.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Distribution, abundance, and palaeoecological insights into theropod tracks of the Broome Sandstone, Western Australia
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the preservation of the Cretaceous vertebrate fauna of the Eromanga Basin in Central West Queensland
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the taxonomic diversity and evolution of crocodylians from the Cenozoic Era of Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gilbert Price
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Standing on the feet of giants: Insights into the biomechanics and evolution of the sauropod hind foot and its implications for sauropod biology
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Life by the Eromanga Sea: Taphonomy of crocodyliform and osteichthyan fossils from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) portion of the Winton Formation at Isisford, central-west Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Welsh
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The ichnological record of Australian Cretaceous ornithopodan dinosaurs: diversity, behaviour, and implications for the evolution of pedal posture
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The palaeoenvironment of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) portion of the Winton Formation, central-western Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Anatomy, systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the Early Cretaceous ornithopod dinosaurs of the Australian-Antarctic rift system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lyn Cook
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Evolutionary developmental biology of the mammalian middle ear: Using virtual reconstruction to integrate development and biomechanics
Associate Advisor
Media
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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