Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) are new technologies with the power to revolutionize the study of morphology. Modern imaging approaches such as computed tomography, laser scanning, and photogrammetry have opened up a new digital world, enabling researchers to share and analyze morphological data electronically and in great detail. Because this digital data exists on a computer screen, however, it can remain difficult to understand and unintuitive to interact with. VR/AR technologies bridge the analog‐to‐digital divide by presenting 3D data to users in a very similar way to how they would interact with actual anatomy, while also providing a more immersive experience and greater possibilities for exploration. This manuscript describes VR/AR hardware, software, and techniques, and is designed to give practicing morphologists and educators a primer on using these technologies in their research, pedagogy, and communication to a wide variety of audiences. We also include a series of case studies from the presentations and workshop given at the 2019 International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, and suggest best practices for the use of VR/AR in comparative morphology.

Wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans), known to occupy the crowns of old growth coast redwood trees, have recently been found to decelerate and engage in controlled, nonvertical descent while falling. Closely related, nonarboreal species with seemingly minor morphological differences exhibit far less behavioral control while falling; however, the influence of salamander morphology on aerodynamics remains to be tested. Here, we examine differences in morphology and aerodynamics of two salamander species, A. vagrans and the nonarboreal ensatina salamander (Ensatina eschscholtzii), using a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques. Specifically, we compare morphometrics statistically, then use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to characterize predicted airflow and pressure over digitally reconstructed models of the salamanders. While similar in body and tail lengths, A. vagrans are more dorsoventrally flattened with longer limbs and greater surface area of the foot relative to body size than the nonarboreal E. eschscholtzii. CFD results show dorsoventral pressure gradients differ between the two digitally reconstructed salamanders resulting in lift coefficients of approximately 0.02 and 0.00, and lift:drag ratios of approximately 0.40 and 0.00 for A. vagrans and E. eschscholtzii, respectively. We conclude that the morphology of A. vagrans is better suited for controlled descent than that of the closely related E. eschscholtzii and highlight the importance of subtle morphological features, such as dorsoventral flatness, foot size, and limb length, for aerial control. That our simulation reports align with real‐world performance data underscores the benefits of CFD for studying the link between morphology and aerodynamics in other taxa.

No abstract