Overview
Background
Research Associate, UQ DINOSAUR LAB, School of the Environment
I have been listed as Australia's Lead Researcher in the field of Palaeontology in 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023 by The Australian Research Magazine.
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 combining 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 enable high‑quality scientific analysis in regional, industrial, and operational settings.
I work with industry partners and government agencies—including the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority—to support rapid documentation and preservation of fossil footprints, and collaborate closely with regional communities and citizen scientists who play an essential role in discovering and safeguarding Australia's trace fossil heritage.
Availability
- Dr Anthony Romilio is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Palaeontology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Digital and quantitative palaeontology
Dr Anthony Romilio is an independent palaeontologist specialising in vertebrate ichnology — the study of fossil footprints and trackways — and has been recognised as a Lead Researcher in Palaeontology by The Australian's Research Magazine for four consecutive years (2023–2026). A Research Associate with the University of Queensland Dinosaur Lab since 2017, he uses photogrammetry, trackway mapping and quantitative analysis to document, measure and communicate fossil trackway evidence from Australia and internationally.
-
Publication, public and educational outreach, digital fossil heritage
His research spans three connected areas: peer-reviewed scientific publication, public and educational outreach — including Dinosaur Day programs at rural and Indigenous schools — and digital heritage documentation. Underpinning all three is a commitment to collaboration: working with museums, industry partners, government agencies, fellow researchers, citizen scientists and the media to broaden access to scientific knowledge and strengthen the cultural, educational and community value of fossil heritage.
-
Collaborations
Collaborating organisations and stakeholders include the Brisbane Urban Environmental Education Centre (BUEEC), Mount Morgan Museum, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Luck Companies in Virginia.
Research impacts
My research improves how fossil tracksites are documented, preserved, and interpreted—directly supporting decision‑making in heritage management. Remote, non‑disruptive documentation methods allow industry partners to record scientifically important footprints without interrupting operational workflows, balancing economic activity with cultural and environmental stewardship.
Internationally, I promote methodological consistency and capacity building across diverse geological and regulatory contexts. Community impact is central to my work: accessible digital tools and documentation protocols empower citizen scientists and regional communities to identify and protect trace fossil sites, while public lectures, media contributions, and school-based outreach deepen public understanding of Australia's fossil heritage.
Works
Search Professor Anthony Romilio’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
A possible turtle swim track from the late Triassic of the Sichuan Basin, China
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony and Persons IV, W. Scott (2023). A possible turtle swim track from the late Triassic of the Sichuan Basin, China. Historical Biology, 36 (4), 820-824. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2185885
2023
Journal Article
A Late Triassic theropod track assemblages from the basal Wingate Sandstone, western Colorado: implications for regional correlation and the megatracksite concept
Lockley, Martin G., Hadden, Glade and Romilio, Anthony (2023). A Late Triassic theropod track assemblages from the basal Wingate Sandstone, western Colorado: implications for regional correlation and the megatracksite concept. Historical Biology, 35 (4), 589-596. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2022.2056838
2022
Journal Article
A machine learning approach for the discrimination of theropod and ornithischian dinosaur tracks
Lallensack, Jens N., Romilio, Anthony and Falkingham, Peter L. (2022). A machine learning approach for the discrimination of theropod and ornithischian dinosaur tracks. Journal of the Royal Society. Interface, 19 (20220588) 20220588, 1-8. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0588
2022
Journal Article
Photogrammetry in ichnology: 3D model generation, visualisation, and data extraction
Lallensack, Jens N., Buchwitz, Michael and Romilio, Anthony (2022). Photogrammetry in ichnology: 3D model generation, visualisation, and data extraction. Journal of Paleontological Techniques, 22, 1-18.
2022
Journal Article
Theropod and other dinosaurian tracks from the upper Lower Cretaceous of northeastern China: overlooked Fuxin Biota records reinvestigated
Xing, Lida, Wang, Yan, Lockley, Martin G., Li, Mengmeng, Gao, Lianfeng, Yin, Zhigang, Romilio, Anthony, Persons IV, Scott W., Wang, Miaoyan, Xu, Xing and Wan, Xiaoqiao (2022). Theropod and other dinosaurian tracks from the upper Lower Cretaceous of northeastern China: overlooked Fuxin Biota records reinvestigated. Cretaceous Research, 135 105190, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105190
2022
Journal Article
Dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Northern Central Yunnan, China
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin, G., Romilio, Anthony, Wang, Tao and Liu, Chang (2022). Dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Northern Central Yunnan, China. Biosis: Biological Systems, 3 (1), e004. doi: 10.37819/biosis.003.01.0169
2022
Journal Article
Fish swim traces from the Jindong Formation (Cretaceous) Korea: Implications for lake basin ichnofacies and paleoecology
Kim, K. S., Lockley, M. G., Romilio, A., Bae, S. M. and Lim, J. D. (2022). Fish swim traces from the Jindong Formation (Cretaceous) Korea: Implications for lake basin ichnofacies and paleoecology. Cretaceous Research, 131 105070, 105070. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105070
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
2022
Journal Article
A new dinosaur tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) Eumeralla Formation of Wattle Hill, Victoria, Australia: a preliminary investigation
Romilio, Anthony and Godfrey, Timothy (2022). A new dinosaur tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) Eumeralla Formation of Wattle Hill, Victoria, Australia: a preliminary investigation. Historical Biology, 34 (12), 2315-2323. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2021.2014481
2022
Journal Article
Small bird and mammal tracks from a mid-Cenozoic volcanic province in Southern Colorado: implications for palaeobiology
Lockley, Martin G., Goodell, Zane, Evaskovich, John, Krall, Angie, Schumacher, Bruce a. and Romilio, Anthony (2022). Small bird and mammal tracks from a mid-Cenozoic volcanic province in Southern Colorado: implications for palaeobiology. Historical Biology, 34 (1), 130-140. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2021.1903456
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
2021
Journal Article
Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism?
Romilio, Anthony, Dick, Roslyn, Skinner, Heather and Millar, Janice (2021). Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism?. Historical Biology, 33 (9), 1573-1569. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014
2021
Journal Article
A new dinosaur track site from the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian) part of the Tuchengzi Formation, Hebei Province, China: Implications for morphology, ontogeny and paleocommunity structure
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Mao, Zhifang, Klein, Hendrik, Gu, Zhenfei, Bai, Chundong, Qiu, Liang, Liu, Yusheng, Romilio, Anthony, Person IV, W. Scott and Wan, Xiaoqiao (2021). A new dinosaur track site from the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian) part of the Tuchengzi Formation, Hebei Province, China: Implications for morphology, ontogeny and paleocommunity structure . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 580 110619, 1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110619
2021
Journal Article
The new ichnotaxon Eubrontes nobitai ichnosp. nov. and other Saurischian tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Sichuan Province and a review of Chinese Eubrontes type tracks
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Klein, Hendrik, Zhang, Li-Jun, Romilio, Anthony, Persons IV, W. Scott, Peng, Guang-Zhao, Ye, Yong and Wang, Miao-Yan (2021). The new ichnotaxon Eubrontes nobitai ichnosp. nov. and other Saurischian tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Sichuan Province and a review of Chinese Eubrontes type tracks. Journal of Palaeogeography, 10 (17) 17, 1-19. doi: 10.1186/s42501-021-00096-y
2021
Journal Article
The smallest non-avian dinosaur track in China (Lower Jurassic, Sichuan Province)
Jiang, Shan, Xing, Lida, Peng, Guangzhao , Lockley, Martin, G., Ye, Yong, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Liu, Chang and Person, W. Scott (2021). The smallest non-avian dinosaur track in China (Lower Jurassic, Sichuan Province). Historical Biology, 34 (4), 1-5. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2021.1940997
2021
Journal Article
Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Jia, Chengkai, Klein, Hendrik, Niu, Kecheng, Zhang, Lijun, Chou, Chunyong, Romilio, Anthony, Wang, Donghao, Zhang, Yu, Persons, W Scott and Wang, Miaoyan (2021). Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology. PeerJ, 9 e11476, 1-73. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11476
2021
Journal Article
An unusual dinosaur track assemblage from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, Anning formation, Lufeng Basin, China
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G. and Romilio, Anthony (2021). An unusual dinosaur track assemblage from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, Anning formation, Lufeng Basin, China. Historical Biology, 33 (4), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2019.1642335
2021
Journal Article
Assessing 'Meidum Geese' species identification with the ‘Tobias criteria’
Romilio, A. (2021). Assessing 'Meidum Geese' species identification with the ‘Tobias criteria’. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 36 102834, 102834. doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102834
2021
Journal Article
A review of two middle Jurassic theropod tracksites discovered in the 1980s from Sichuan Basin
Xing, Lida, G. Lockley, Martin, Peng, Guangzhao, Ye, Yong, Jiang, Shan, Romilio, Anthony, Persons IV, W. Scott and Wang, Miaoyan (2021). A review of two middle Jurassic theropod tracksites discovered in the 1980s from Sichuan Basin. Biosis: Biological Systems, 2 (1), 191-208. doi: 10.37819/biosis.002.01.0094
2021
Journal Article
Stegosaur track assemblage from Xinjiang, China, featuring the smallest known stegosaur record
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Persons, W. Scott, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Wang, Donghao and Wang, Miaoyan (2021). Stegosaur track assemblage from Xinjiang, China, featuring the smallest known stegosaur record. Palaios, 36 (2), 68-76. doi: 10.2110/palo.2020.036
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anthony Romilio is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: