My research focuses on the relationship between genetics and early environments in the development of behavior patterns and sensory processes with a concentration on natricine snakes and monitor lizards with feeding, defensive, and social behavior as the target systems. Comparing molecular genetics, behavior, and morphology across populations, especially island systems, is frequently employed. Vomeronasal chemoreception, highly elaborated in snakes, is the sensory system typically studied. The role of environmental enrichment or controlled deprivation on captive reptiles is being studied. Finally, play is a key characteristic of endothermic vertebrates that may underlie the success of our species. We have developed and are testing a theoretical and comparative approach to play behavior throughout the vertebrates. Play and snakes are aspects of ritual in religious and other cultural practices and thus snake handling religious practices and responses of animals to snakes are currently being studied.