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
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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 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
2021
Book
Guide to the Extinct Animals of Ancient Egypt
Romilio, Anthony (2021). Guide to the Extinct Animals of Ancient Egypt. Columbia, South Carolina, United States: Amazon.
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
2021
Journal Article
Multiple sauropod-dominated track sites from the Lower Cretaceous Dasheng Group of Eastern China: morphology, preservation and paleontology
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Romilio, Anthony, Persons, W.S.IV., Wang, M.Y., Tang, Y.G. and Wang, X.L (2021). Multiple sauropod-dominated track sites from the Lower Cretaceous Dasheng Group of Eastern China: morphology, preservation and paleontology. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Bulletin, 82, 543-567.
2021
Journal Article
Tetrapod track assemblages from midwestern Inner Mongolia, China: Review and new observations
Xing, L.D., Lockley, M.G., Zhang, L.J., Romilio, A., Namier, N., Wang, M.Y. and Persons, W.S.IV. (2021). Tetrapod track assemblages from midwestern Inner Mongolia, China: Review and new observations. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 82, 525-541.
2021
Journal Article
Fruita’s first fossil footprint exhibit: The discovery of forgotten specimens in an historic former museum building.
Lockley, M., Klein, H., McHugh, J.B. and Romilio, A. (2021). Fruita’s first fossil footprint exhibit: The discovery of forgotten specimens in an historic former museum building. . New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 82, 219-226.
2021
Journal Article
First report of "Chirotherium" lulli from the Upper Triassic Chinle formation of San Juan county, Utah
Milner, Andrew R.C., Irmis, Randall B., Lockley, Martin G., Klein, Hendrik, Slauf, David and Romillio, Anthony (2021). First report of "Chirotherium" lulli from the Upper Triassic Chinle formation of San Juan county, Utah. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 82, 275-284.
2021
Journal Article
Bird tracks from the Green River Formation (Eocene) of Utah: ichnotaxonomy, diversity, community structure and convergence
Lockley, Martin, Kim, Kyung Soo, Lim, Jong Deock and Romilio, Anthony (2021). Bird tracks from the Green River Formation (Eocene) of Utah: ichnotaxonomy, diversity, community structure and convergence. Historical Biology, 33 (10), 2085-2102. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1771559
2021
Journal Article
Additional notes on the Mount Morgan dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia
Romilio, Anthony (2021). Additional notes on the Mount Morgan dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia. Historical Biology, 33 (10), 2005-2007. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1755853
2020
Journal Article
Trackway evidence for large bipedal crocodylomorphs from the Cretaceous of Korea
Kim, Kyung Soo, Lockley, Martin G., Lim, Jong Deock, Bae, Seul Mi and Romilio, Anthony (2020). Trackway evidence for large bipedal crocodylomorphs from the Cretaceous of Korea. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 8680, 8680. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66008-7
2020
Journal Article
Evidence of ornithischian activity from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone, Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia — preliminary findings
Romilio, Anthony (2020). Evidence of ornithischian activity from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone, Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia — preliminary findings. Historical Biology, 33 (11), 1-5. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1846033
2020
Journal Article
An historic theropod-dominated track assemblage from the Upper Jurassic of Sichuan, China
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Romilio, Anthony, Klein, Hendrik, Peng, Guangzhao, Persons, W. Scott, Ye, Yong, Jiang, Shan and Wang, Miaoyan (2020). An historic theropod-dominated track assemblage from the Upper Jurassic of Sichuan, China. Historical Biology, 33 (11), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1830278
2020
Book
An Instructional Guide to Visualising Dinosaur Tracks
Romilio, Anthony (2020). An Instructional Guide to Visualising Dinosaur Tracks. Columbia, South Carolina, United States: Amazon.
2020
Journal Article
Footprints of marine reptiles from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian) Guanling Formation of Guizhou Province, southwestern China: the earliest evidence of synchronous style of swimming
Xing, Lida, Klein, Hendrik, Lockley, Martin G., Wu, Xiao-chun, Benton, Michael J., Zeng, Rong and Romilio, Anthony (2020). Footprints of marine reptiles from the Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian) Guanling Formation of Guizhou Province, southwestern China: the earliest evidence of synchronous style of swimming. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 558 109943, 109943. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109943
2020
Other Outputs
120 juta tahun yang lalu, buaya raksasa berkaki dua ini menjelajah wilayah Korea Selatan
Romilio, Anthony (2020, 07 03). 120 juta tahun yang lalu, buaya raksasa berkaki dua ini menjelajah wilayah Korea Selatan The Conversation
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
Dinosaur Eggs Associated with Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, China: Evidence for Foraging Behavior?
Xing, L., Niu, K., Zhang, L., Yang, T.-R., Zhang, J., Persons, W.S., Romilio, A., Zhuang, Y. and Ram, H. (2020). Dinosaur Eggs Associated with Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, China: Evidence for Foraging Behavior? . Biosis: Biological Systems, 1 (2), 54-59. doi: 10.37819/biosis.001.002.0058
2020
Journal Article
First reports of Crocodylopodus from Asia: implications for the paleoecology of the Lower Cretaceous
Lockley, Martin G., Lim, Jong Deock, Park, Hong Deock, Romilio, Anthony, Yoo, Jae Sang, Choi, Ji Won, Kim, Kyung Soo, Choi, Yeongi, Kang, Seung-Hyeop, Kim, Dong Hee and Kim, Tae Hyeong (2020). First reports of Crocodylopodus from Asia: implications for the paleoecology of the Lower Cretaceous. Cretaceous Research, 111 104441, 104441. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104441
2020
Journal Article
Dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary Tuchengzi Formation (Hebei Province, China) used as building stones in the Chengde imperial summer resort: age, ichnology, and history
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Du, Tianming, Zhang, Lijun, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Persons, W. Scott, Wang, Kuan, Li, Zhenyu and Wan, Xiaoqiao (2020). Dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary Tuchengzi Formation (Hebei Province, China) used as building stones in the Chengde imperial summer resort: age, ichnology, and history. Cretaceous Research, 107 104310, 104310. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104310
2019
Journal Article
Dinosaur tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Xiguayuan Formation in the Luanping Basin, Hebei Province, China
Xing, Lida, Lockley, Martin G., Qin, Zuohuan, Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Persons, W. Scott, Nie, Xin and Wan, Xiaoqiao (2019). Dinosaur tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Xiguayuan Formation in the Luanping Basin, Hebei Province, China. Cretaceous Research, 103 104163, 104163. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.06.009
2019
Journal Article
A probable tyrannosaurid track from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China
Xing, Lida, Niu, Kecheng, Lockley, Martin G., Klein, Hendrik, Romilio, Anthony, Scott Persons, W. and Brusatte, Stephen L. (2019). A probable tyrannosaurid track from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China. Science Bulletin, 64 (16), 1136-1139. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2019.06.013
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anthony Romilio is:
- Not available for supervision
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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