Overview
Background
I am a palaeo‑ichnologist and evolutionary biologist specialising in dinosaur footprints and fossil trackways, using digital and quantitative methods to reconstruct how extinct animals moved, behaved, and interacted with their environments.
My research focuses on extracting biological and behavioural information from footprints and trackways, particularly where body fossils are rare or absent. I develop and apply digital workflows that combine photogrammetry, spatial measurements, and custom analytical tools to study dinosaur locomotion, group behaviour, and palaeoecology in a reproducible and scalable way. A strong emphasis of my work is the use of remote and non‑destructive methods that allow high‑quality scientific analysis in regional, industrial, and operational settings.
I work extensively with industry partners and government agencies—such as the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority—to support rapid documentation and preservation of fossil footprints. I also collaborate closely with regional communities and citizen scientists, recognising their essential role in discovering, recording, and safeguarding Australia’s trace fossil heritage.
My research has received sustained national recognition within a decade of completing my PhD (2014). I was listed as a Lead Researcher in Australia in the Palaeontology category by The Australian Research Magazine in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, reflecting the impact and innovation of my contributions to digital palaeontology. My work spans major Australian and international tracksites and is strongly oriented toward public engagement, heritage protection, and translating scientific research beyond academia.
Availability
- Dr Anthony Romilio is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Palaeontology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Dinosaur footprints and trackways
I reconstruct dinosaur locomotion, behaviour, and palaeoecology through detailed analysis of fossil footprints and trackways. My work focuses on interpreting movement patterns, group dynamics, and trackmaker identity using spatial measurements, 3D datasets, and quantitative comparisons across Australian and international sites.
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Digital and quantitative palaeontology
My research develops and applies digital workflows—including photogrammetry, 3D modelling, spatial landmarking, and machine‑learning‑assisted classification—to analyse fossil track morphology. These reproducible and non‑destructive methods support scientific analysis, heritage protection, and rapid documentation in operational settings.
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Fossil heritage, industry, and community engagement
I work at the interface of palaeontology, industry, and community participation to improve the discovery, documentation, and preservation of fossil footprints. This includes collaborations with mining operations, regulatory agencies, community groups, and international research partners to promote high‑quality heritage outcomes and widespread public engagement.
Research impacts
My research strengthens decision‑making in heritage management by improving how fossil tracksites are documented, preserved, and interpreted. Through remote and non‑disruptive documentation methods, I support industry partners in recording scientifically important footprints without interrupting operational workflows, helping balance economic activity with cultural and environmental stewardship.
Internationally, my work applies digital documentation frameworks across diverse geological and regulatory contexts, promoting methodological consistency and capacity building in ichnological research. Community engagement remains a central impact of my work: I design accessible digital tools and documentation protocols that empower citizen scientists and regional communities to identify and safeguard trace fossil sites. Public lectures, media contributions, exhibitions, and school‑based outreach further extend this impact, deepening public understanding of Australia’s fossil heritage and supporting curriculum‑aligned learning in regional and Indigenous communities.
Works
Search Professor Anthony Romilio’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Dinosaur footprints from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone of the Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia
Romilio, Anthony, Park, Ron, Nichols, Wes and Jackson, Owen (2026). Dinosaur footprints from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone of the Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia. Historical Biology, 38 (1), 134-145. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153
2026
Journal Article
Evaluating heteropody in tracks: novel methodologies for manus-pes ratio calculation
Romilio, Anthony (2026). Evaluating heteropody in tracks: novel methodologies for manus-pes ratio calculation. Historical Biology, 38 (1), 127-133. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2467981
2026
Journal Article
Re-investigation of the mid-Cretaceous ‘Skenes Creek’ dinosaur tracksite and discovery of distinct tracks at Browns Creek within the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian– Albian) Eumeralla Formation, Victoria, Australia
Romilio, Anthony, Godfrey, Tim, Cleeland, Mike, Duncan, Ruairidh J., Grippi, Simona, Martin, Anthony, Tracksdorf, Helmut and Wagstaff, Tim (2026). Re-investigation of the mid-Cretaceous ‘Skenes Creek’ dinosaur tracksite and discovery of distinct tracks at Browns Creek within the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian– Albian) Eumeralla Formation, Victoria, Australia. Historical Biology, 38 (1), 146-163. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2501784
2026
Journal Article
Grallatorid–eubrontid tridactyl track assemblages from Lower Jurassic, Sichuan Province, China: Insights into theropod diversity, locomotion and behavior
Xing, Li-Da, Jiang, Shan, Chen, Qi-Yan, Ye, Yong, Peng, Guang-Zhao, Romilio, Anthony, Klein, Hendrik and Gong, Yan-Yi (2026). Grallatorid–eubrontid tridactyl track assemblages from Lower Jurassic, Sichuan Province, China: Insights into theropod diversity, locomotion and behavior. Journal of Palaeogeography, 15 (1) 100311, 100311. doi: 10.1016/j.jop.2025.100311
2025
Journal Article
The body mass-maximum speed relationship and the athletic capability of giant proboscideans and sauropods
Ruiz, Javier, Romilio, Anthony, Saarinen, Juha, Torices, Angélica and Jiménez-Arenas, Juan Manuel (2025). The body mass-maximum speed relationship and the athletic capability of giant proboscideans and sauropods. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-32536-3
2025
Journal Article
Digital Analysis of the longest dinosaur trackway (CA6) from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Rotzo Formation, Coste dell’Anglone, Trentino-Alto Adige, Northern Italy
Romilio, Anthony (2025). Digital Analysis of the longest dinosaur trackway (CA6) from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Rotzo Formation, Coste dell’Anglone, Trentino-Alto Adige, Northern Italy. Italian Journal of Geosciences, 145 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.3301/IJG.2026.12
2025
Other Outputs
First tracks, second changes
Romilio, Anthony (2025, 11 25). First tracks, second changes Dinosaur Dreaming 24-24.
2025
Journal Article
Track by track: revealing sauropod turning and lateralised gait at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracksite (Upper Jurassic, Bluff Sandstone, Colorado)
Romilio, Anthony, Murphey, Paul C., Matthews, Neffra A., Schumacher, Bruce A., Murphey, Lance D., Toscanini, Marcello and Boyce, Parker (2025). Track by track: revealing sauropod turning and lateralised gait at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracksite (Upper Jurassic, Bluff Sandstone, Colorado). Geomatics, 5 (4) 67, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/geomatics5040067
2025
Journal Article
Exceptional associations of small-sized theropod, bird, and pterosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous Hekou Group, China
Xing, Lida, Jung, Jongyun, Li, Daqing, Kim, Kyung Soo, Lallensack, Jens N., de Barros, Gabriel E. B., You, Wenze, Qi, Qi, Yang, Xinnan, Chen, Qiyan and Romilio, Anthony (2025). Exceptional associations of small-sized theropod, bird, and pterosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous Hekou Group, China. SSRN. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5554125
2025
Journal Article
A new sauropod-dominated tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous in central Ningxia, northwestern China, and the implications on palaeoenvironments
Yang, Qing, Xing, Lida, Du, Fangpeng, Chen, Qiyan, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Jin, Yufei, Liu, Lin, Qi, Juan, Zhao, Ming, Chen, Xi, Zhao, Ya, Wei, Lixin and Wan, Yang (2025). A new sauropod-dominated tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous in central Ningxia, northwestern China, and the implications on palaeoenvironments. Swiss Journal of Paleontology, 144 (1) 35. doi: 10.1186/s13358-025-00378-1
2025
Journal Article
Dinosaur track assemblages from mid-Cretaceous of Fujian Province, southeastern China: ichnotaxonomic review and faunal comparison
Xing, Lida, Niu, Kecheng, Chen, Qiyan, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Chen, Runsheng, Lin, Min, Deng, Ke and Tang, Jianrong (2025). Dinosaur track assemblages from mid-Cretaceous of Fujian Province, southeastern China: ichnotaxonomic review and faunal comparison. PeerJ, 13 e19597, 1-84. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19597
2025
Journal Article
A digital analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous dinosaur tracksite, China
Romilio, Anthony and Xing, Lida (2025). A digital analysis of the ‘Phoenix Trackway’ at the Hanxi Cretaceous dinosaur tracksite, China. Geosciences, 15 (5) 165, 165. doi: 10.3390/geosciences15050165
2025
Conference Publication
Advancing palaeontological trackway research through an entirely digital approach
Romilio, A. (2025). Advancing palaeontological trackway research through an entirely digital approach. 5th Palaeontological Virtual Congress, Virtual, 10-20 March 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Blender as a tool for palaeoichnological research: case study from Lark Quarry
Romilio, Anthony (2025). Blender as a tool for palaeoichnological research: case study from Lark Quarry. Geobios, 88-89, 219-226. doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2024.11.002
2025
Journal Article
Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary theropod tracks from the slope of the Fallen Feng, Chicheng, China: review and new observations
Xing, Lida, Chen, Qiyan, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony and Wan, Xiaoqiao (2025). Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary theropod tracks from the slope of the Fallen Feng, Chicheng, China: review and new observations. Historical Biology, 37 (8), 1768-1779. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2384579
2024
Journal Article
A grallatorid track site from the Lower Cretaceous Hekou Group, Gansu Province, China
Xing, Lida, Li, Daqing, Chen, Qiyan, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony and Li, Yan (2024). A grallatorid track site from the Lower Cretaceous Hekou Group, Gansu Province, China. Historical Biology. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2439933
2024
Book Chapter
Cretaceous vertebrate tracks
Xing, Lida, Díaz-Martínez, Ignacio, Lallensack, Jens N., Kim, Kyung Soo, Buckley, Lisa G., Romilio, Anthony, Piñuela, Laura, Wang, Donghao, Chen, Qiyan, Yang, Qing, Chou, Chunyong, Yin, Hang and Jin, Yufei (2024). Cretaceous vertebrate tracks . Vertebrate ichnology: tetrapod tracks and trackways. (pp. 479-747) edited by Spencer G. Lucas, Adrian P. Hunt and Hendrik Klein. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-13837-9.00002-0
2024
Journal Article
Track Recognition via Artificial Cognition (TRAC): Preliminary Report on the Application of Machine Learning to Identify Dinosaur Tracks
Murphey, Paul C., Romilio, Anthony, Matthews, Neffra A., Lockley, Martin G., Breithaupt, Brent H., Houck, Karen J., Chin, Karen, Milner, Andrew, Martinez, Ignacio Diaz, Xing, Lida and Jannel, Andreas (2024). Track Recognition via Artificial Cognition (TRAC): Preliminary Report on the Application of Machine Learning to Identify Dinosaur Tracks. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Bulletin, 95, 349-356.
2024
Journal Article
Lockley's legacy: detailed analysis of Australia's First Sauropod Trackway
Romilio, Anthony (2024). Lockley's legacy: detailed analysis of Australia's First Sauropod Trackway. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Bulletin, 95, 375-380.
2024
Journal Article
New records of dinosaur tracks in eastern Tibet and a review of Middle Jurassic dinosaur faunas from the eastern Tethys, southwest China
Xing, Lida, Klein, Hendrik, Lockley, Martin G., Li, Haipeng, Tong, Bolin, Ye, Yong, Dai, Hui, Wang, Donghao, Chunyong, Chou, Romilio, Anthony and Persons, W. Scott IV (2024). New records of dinosaur tracks in eastern Tibet and a review of Middle Jurassic dinosaur faunas from the eastern Tethys, southwest China. Historical Biology, 36 (7), 1244-1258. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2209784
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anthony Romilio is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Dinosaur locomotion and behaviour from fossil trackways
This project investigates dinosaur locomotion, behaviour, and group dynamics using fossil footprints and trackways. Students will apply quantitative and digital methods to analyse trackway geometry, gait parameters, and spatial patterns from Australian and international sites. The project is suitable for candidates interested in dinosaur behaviour, biomechanics, and trace fossil analysis, and can be tailored to theropod, sauropod, or ornithopod trackways.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Distribution, abundance, and palaeoecological insights into theropod tracks of the Broome Sandstone, Western Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Salisbury
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Anthony Romilio directly for media enquiries about:
- Citizen science
- Dinosaur footprints
- Dinosaur tracks
- Dinosaur trackways
- Dinosaurs
- Evolution
- Fossil footprints
- Fossil heritage
- Mining and fossils
- Palaeontology
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