But these challenges have only served to whet my appetite. Two reasons for spending time here become quickly apparent to anyone who has ever visited the country. Second, the people are unbelievably friendly, and crime is virtually unknown. But what really drew me to Myanmar were the reptiles and amphibians. Along with the rest of the biota, Myanmar's herpetofauna is one of the least studied in Asia.
Many new species await discovery.
The first component is important to our efforts to understand the composition and evolution of the southeast Asian herpetofauna. The second is critical because biodiversity surveys will provide baseline data needed for making wise conservation decisions-something Myanmar, like the rest of southeast Asia, badly needs. I have always been primarily interested in snakes, especially venomous ones. I currently study members of the family Elapidae, which includes such highly dangerous species as cobras, coral snakes, and sea snakes. With 37 species, Myanmar is particularly rich in venomous snakes.