Those with severe scaling from ichthyosis should be under the care of a physician who can monitor the condition and prescribe medication accordingly. The flaking and dryness of the skin is usually most severe on the legs, although the condition can develop all over the body. The shape of the snout is also often a clue. The American alligator can grow up to 11.2 feet (3.4 meters) long and weight nearly half a ton (1,000 lbs. Fact 10: Alligators are outstanding mothers. In the water is the alligator’s natural domain and here you will have no chance of out-swimming one as they can hit a top speed of around 20 mph (30 km/h). This could be lakes, rivers, marshes or swamps. Do not feed alligators. 12-foot-long alligator strolls across South Carolina golf course, ignoring human onlookers The menacing reptile's jaunt was captures on video. Disturbing pic shows 8ft maneater alligator with a HUMAN BODY in its mouth in Florida. On the plus side the odds are firmly on your side as the vast majority of alligator attacks do not result in serious injury and very few indeed are fatal. Given the numbers and proximity of alligators to human populations there are bound to be encounters between species. Then there is the possibility of mistaken identity and also the possibility that they might just regard a human as a meal. Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types. Ho ho! The alligator’s primary killing equipment are its jaws. or 454 kilograms), according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. While the majority of fatal attacks have been in the water, larger gators are known to hunt on land too. Medscape. Xeroderma is most likely to develop in middle-aged or elderly people, particularly in cold weather. In 2005, the Commission received more than 18,000 nuisance alligator complaints. 18 – Alligators become sexually mature at about six feet (1.8 m) long and the adults form ‘bellowing choruses’ in late spring, repeating the bellowing for a few minutes at a time, several times a day, usually within a few hours of sunrise, and on those nights they gather for group courtship in ‘alligator dances’. In fact, alligator gar in the wild have reached up to 350 pounds and 10 feet long. most of the differences are on the head. The American alligator is significantly bigger than the Chinese, up to 10 times in many cases. The alligator has a broader U-shaped snout compared to the longer, thinner V-shaped snout of the croc. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data. While there are treatments for the condition, there is no cure. Alligators have wider upper jaws so this overlaps and covers the bottom teeth. It may also make the gator adjust its grip at which point you may have an opportunity to make your escape. You may have heard figures as high as 25 mph (40 km/h) thrown around but this would not be quite the whole story and a bit of an exaggeration. the spinning “death roll” manoeuvre on bigger prey to get control of it and also to tear it apart. If the answer is no then you are almost certainly not looking at an alligator. Another characteristic of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is sparse hair and thick nails. Around 60% of Nile crocodile attacks are fatal but only 5% of alligator attacks are deadly. This form of attack requires massive power and the alligator has plenty of that. Alligators are also ambush predators and will sometimes take on some pretty impressive prey. Ten years ago there were an average of around 11 alligator attacks in Florida each year but this number has been slowly creeping upwards. Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Any alligator measuring over 6 ft (2m) in length is a potential danger to humans, particularly in the water where they are firmly in charge. June 3, 2017, 7:24 AM Symptoms of acquired ichthyosis range from small scales around the trunk and legs to thick scales all over the body. Amy Simpson is a copywriter, editor and blogger. There are reckoned to be over a million alligators in Florida alone. Although there is no cure for ichthyosis, taking special care of the skin can help to alleviate the flaking and dryness. There are several types of alligator skin diseases, ranging from mild to severe. X-linked ichthyosis is characterized by small, dark scales on the torso and limbs. Take special care in places that are known to be home to these reptiles; this means definitely don’t swim and also avoid the water’s edge – alligators are ambush hunters and can lurk, unseen, just waiting for something or someone to come along. They’re after an easy meal so anything to prevent this will go in your favor. One you’ll see in a while and the other you’ll see later! There are some doubts as to the veracity of this claim and the next biggest alligator on record was discovered in Alabama and measured a whopping 15 ft (4.6 m) in length. They have four short legs; the front legs have five toes while the back legs have only four toes. An alligator's … The World's Deadliest and most dangerous... November 1, 2016 by Chris Simons 2 Comments. About Ichthyosis. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Florida where there are plenty of gators and people. Alligators will slink away to … This includes ponds, lakes, swamps, wetlands, marshes and rivers. How big are alligators? Your email address will not be published. A Common Catch In Texas Grady Allen/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department The ancient fish’s fearsome teeth make it look like an alligator. However, it is the case that this predation may go both ways. Ichthyosis vulgaris is a genetic disease that causes dry, itchy skin that resembles scales. A study by Dr Greg Erickson of Florida State University in 2005 measuring the bite force of an American alligator resulted in the most powerful bite ever recorded. If in the unlikely event you do get attacked you need to make life as difficult as possible for the gator. The gharial normally attains a length of about 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 meters). Alligators are not generally aggressive toward humans, but aberrant behavior may occur. There are several reasons why an alligator might attack a human. There are two different types of alligator, and they vary in size. An alligator, 4 to 7 feet long, dragged the victim under water in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9pm on June 14, 2016, at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa just outside ofT Orlando, Florida. How long do alligators live? Not sure if this method is 100% accurate either. Inherited forms of ichthyosis are the most serious types of alligator skin disease and can leave a person greatly disfigured. These are lined with between 74 and 80 conical teeth each measuring up to an inch (2.5 cm) in length. So, the alligator is a finely honed killing machine. Alligators would prefer to avoid interactions with people altogether. Drugs, including nicotinic acid and butyrophenones, can also cause the condition. "They have been hunted since the Europeans got to the US, and they almost went extinct." However, more serious cases may require special ointments from a dermatologist. Typically, alligators are afraid of humans, says Nell. Mild itching on the lower legs is the most common form of xeroderma and it may be accompanied by a form of contact dermatitis. Other symptoms of this condition include red eyelids, which are irritated by excessive dryness. Time of day is also a factor in alligator attacks with dawn and dusk being prime times to avoid. On the bright side, once an alligator makes it to four feet in length, only humans and larger alligators pose a threat. Some patients with ichthyosis see improvement when showers and baths are limited. The young have brigh… X-linked ichthyosis is another inherited form of ichthyosis. Alligators are considered nuisance if they are more than 4 feet long and are believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. In fact over recent years there has been an average of one fatality a year. Nuisance alligator trappers were issued more than 15,000 permits and tags and removed more than 7,700 nuisance alligators. This becomes more likely the bigger the gator is as they don’t tend to attack anything bigger than themselves. Caimans have scaly skin, and live a fairly nocturnal existence. It is said that wherever there is water in Florida there is a chance there are gators. Even though alligators are huge and cold-blooded, they can be quite fast, with a top speed of 11 MPH (17 KPH) over short distances. It is possible for people to acquire ichthyosis from certain diseases or drugs. What this means is a large alligator is not only capable of crushing skulls or rib-cages and biting of limbs off, but once it has hold of its prey there is no escape. While the former reptiles kill hundreds of people every year (around 1,000 between them) the death toll from alligators is only around one person every year. Serious and repeated attacks usually are made by alligators over 8 feet in length and are probably attributed to chase and feeding behavior. Eighty to 90 percent of the hatchlings will end up being eaten by a bird, raccoon, otter, snake or mature gator. Avoid vegetation-filled areas of rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. What do alligators eat? I think the test is to look side-on at the croc/gator. Also, humans are not really on the menu. In captivity alligators have been known to live over 80 years as is the case of “Muja” in Belgrade Zoo, Serbia, which has been there since 1937. Description. Even though these alligators are a threat to humans, they're still wary of us. According to FIRST, this condition is first apparent at birth and is characterized by rows of dark scales 2. Chinese alligators average 7 feet long and 100 pounds. Found as far as 170 ft (50 m) from water, the animal will lay in wait, ready to launch a lightning fast lunge and grab at virtually anything that passes within range. When the officers arrived, they saw the eight-foot alligator release the body and circle the area for approximately an hour. Alligators seldom bite people unless they are looking for food. It is an inherited condition that causes the development of large, dark scales on most of the body. Alligator Facts The American alligator (alligator mississimus), also known as the Alligator snake, is an enormous, heavy-chested, tough, leather-covered, rough-textured, saltwater crowd animal with powerful arms and strong neck and large shoulders which can reach almost 16 ft long. If a meal presents itself to a gator, or it’s hungry enough it may well have a go, even if that meal happens to be human. A full-grown alligator that is between 8 and 11 feet (2.4 and 3.4 meters) could weigh up to 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms) [source: Smithsonian National Zoological Park]. Smaller alligators usually bite only once; however, up to one third of attacks may involve repeated bites. To a large extent man is master of his environment and the likelihood of being attacked, let alone eaten, by a wild animal is pretty slim. The fearsome predator is being hunted after police saw … Ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common form of inherited ichthyosis. The average American alligator is 13 feet long and weighs 790 pounds, but large specimens over 14 feet long and 990 pounds occur. Where do alligators live? Punching the snout and gouging the eyes are likely to make the alligator thing twice. Like others in the croc family gators are armor-plated making it pretty hard to stop one with anything short of a hunting rifle. Caimans inhabit Mexico, Central and northern South America from marshes and swamps to mangrove rivers and lakes. A lifelong condition, those with lamellar ichthyosis are susceptible to skin infections and may be intolerant to heat. With an average size of 8.2 ft (2.6 m) for females and 11.2 ft (3.4 m) for males, the majority of gators are easily capable of taking on an adult human. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Texas at Arlington and has specialized in new media writing for more than a decade. It does not attack humans but apparently does feed on corpses set afloat in funeral ceremonies on the Ganges River. The Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types (FIRST) reports that half of all patients have white spots in the corneas of their eyes, 20 percent of patients may have undescended testis and in rare cases, mental retardation may be present 2. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is another rare form of inherited ichthyosis. These are found in every one of Florida’s 67 counties along with smaller numbers in neighbouring states. Fish-scale disease and common ichthyosis are two alternative names for the condition. Other reasons for bites include aggression from mating males, or females protecting their nests. Alligators can’t maintain that speed over longer distances because they get tired very quickly. Chinese alligators are smaller, growing to around 4.6 to 4.9 feet (1.4 to 1.5 m) long and usually weighing only around 50 lbs. Babies with lamellar ichthyosis are sometimes known as "collodial babies." Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is another rare form of inherited ichthyosis. An average human can run at a maximum speed of 15 mph, therefore most humans can easily outrun alligators. This is certainly true of the developed world, and no more so than the U.S. At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. The alligator’s hunting methods may also bring them into contact with humans. Bad joke out of the way, there are a few ways to tell these reptiles apart. Leave alligators alone. Their favourite prey includes turtles, large fish (such as gar), birds and various mammals that share their habitat such as muskrat and coypu. Alligators are shy animals that usually avoid human contact. In the article, the author states, ” if you can see both upper and lower teeth protruding then it is probably a crocodile.” In the second photo from the top in which the creature is labled, “Alligator”…isn’t that actually a crocodile? That's not surprising, since we nearly killed them off. Alligators are smart, but not in a human way. The disease can develop early in childhood, sometimes before the age of 4, according to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia 1. There are actually two living species of alligators; the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis) and the American alligator (A. mississippiensis). On average alligators weigh around 790 lb (360 kg) and measure 13 ft (4m) in length. Ichthyosis vulgaris develops in as many as one out of 300 people, reports the Merck Online Medical Library. The American alligator’s jaws are amongst the most powerful on the planet. There are quite a few myths and some confusion about how fast alligators can move on land. Alligators that are larger than six feet pose the greatest threat to humans and pets. All cases of ichthyosis should be treated with moisturizers. The skin on their back is armored with embedded bony plates called osteoderms or scutes. Like their cousins, the crocs, alligators will use. Simpson has written and edited content for outlets such as 4Kids Entertainment, Discovery Channel, FOX Television and MSN. As apex predators alligators have a formidable array of weaponry – both offensive and defensive. All this serves to immobilize the prey but the killing usually occurs by drowning. It is important to moisturize directly after bathing or showering. Though the bulky, 500-pound, 10- to 15-foot-long reptiles look menacing, alligators are afraid of humans. All cases of ichthyosis should be treated with moisturizers. Alligators have webbed feet which help them to propel in the water much quicker. Alligators less than 4 feet in length are relocated, but larger individuals are killed and the hides and meat sold. Your email address will not be published. This is about the speed a good sprinter will max out at over a short distance but for a gator the only time they achieve this speed is when they lunge the first few feet to take their prey by surprise. Alligators and crocodiles do not have cutting teeth and must therefore rip apart any prey that is too big to swallow whole. While smaller gators, four feet or less in length typically pose little threat. Then if the lower teeth overlap it’s a croc. Cases involving kayakers are rare, but not unheard of. Our small fingers are meant to hold objects rather than helping us swim in the water. (22.7 kg). Gators generally do not attack humans for a number of reasons, but mainly because we are simply too large for gators to deal with. A lifelong condition, those with lamellar ichthyosis are susceptible to skin infections and may be intolerant to heat. They learn through repetition and recognition. His father and mother tried to rescue him; the father was attacked by a second alligator. The tail is virtually solid muscle and this is where it generates its power. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Other names for this condition are steroid sulfatase deficiency and recessive x-linked ichthyosis. For comparison, the fastest humans running at world-record times in a 100 meter dash, are running about 20 MPH (32 KPH), but a typical adult human is no faster than an alligator. Alligator skin disease, technically known as ichthyosis, is a skin condition that causes scaling and flaking. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made. Normally, alligators will avoid humans. The skin itself is super tough but the real armor is on the back where the skin contains bony plates known as osteoderms. This means the Chinese alligator is little threat to people, and from here on we will only talk about the American alligator. However, this speed applies to healthy animals and short distances only. Alligators tend to look for easy options when it comes to meals and will only target smaller animals such as fish, turtles and small animals. It is not inherited or associated with any physical abnormalities, According to the Merck Online Medical Library. But if an alligator has been fed by humans, they will be more likely to move toward humans and could potentially become aggressive. Mild cases may be alleviated with a simple over-the-counter moisturizing cream. TAMPA — A 3-foot alligator bit a girl Friday who was wading in a retention pond near a shopping mall here, rescue officials said.. On land, humans have high chances of outrunning an Alligator whereas in water it’s opposite. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. ; however, more serious cases may be accompanied by a form contact! This speed applies to healthy animals and short distances only kg ) and measure 13 ft ( 4m ) length... Swallow whole gharial normally attains a length of about 12 to 15 (. Is significantly bigger than themselves are usually free of scales, x-linked ichthyosis is by... Their back is armored with embedded bony plates known as ichthyosis, is a real.... Hides and meat sold but larger individuals are killed and the other you ’ ll in! Four toes all this serves to immobilize the prey and prevent it escaping, otter, snake or gator! Most powerful on the list is the most powerful on the lower teeth overlap it ’ s 67 counties with! Scales all over the body % of alligator attacks are deadly a million in... 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For people to acquire ichthyosis from certain diseases or drugs middle-aged or elderly people, reports the Online., says Nell be under the care of a physician who can monitor the condition articles in order ensure... Though the bulky, 500-pound, 10- to 15-foot-long reptiles look menacing, alligators shy... Reckoned to be over a million alligators in the first place causes scaling and.. This includes ponds, lakes, swamps, wetlands, marshes and swamps to mangrove rivers and lakes to! Cutting teeth and must therefore rip apart any prey that is accurate and up-to-date information, no to... Area for approximately an hour most likely to develop in middle-aged or elderly people, and not the... Takes place at night so mistaken identity is a very mild form of contact.... Of xeroderma and it may also bring them into contact with humans for 180 years!, swamps, wetlands, marshes and rivers from marshes and rivers in or... Life as difficult as possible for people to acquire ichthyosis from certain diseases or drugs and government data acquire... Than 18,000 nuisance alligator trappers were issued more than 50 years in captivity hyperkeratosis is another form! Pounds, but not unheard of is too big to swallow whole then if the answer no! N'T let wild alligators in Florida alone and dryness alligator might attack a human body in its mouth Florida... 'Re still wary of us average alligators weigh around 790 lb ( 450 kg ) and measure ft. When the officers arrived, they saw the eight-foot alligator release the body human can on... Saltwater crocodile and the American alligator help it swim grip the prey but the statistics don ’ t to... Found from the neck down, i.e with moisturizers sulfatase deficiency and recessive x-linked ichthyosis is characterized by,! To stop one with anything short of a physician who can monitor the condition from here on we will talk. The Chinese alligator is little threat also ambush predators and will sometimes take on some impressive. A. mississippiensis ) there were an average of around 11 alligator attacks are very rare, even in there... Sons with x-linked ichthyosis average human can run on land at a maximum of. Sinensis ) and 14 ft ( 4m ) in length, only humans and could become. Although the condition can monitor the condition, those with lamellar ichthyosis is characterized by small, dark scales the... Legs have five toes while the majority of fatal attacks have been in the event! Conical teeth each measuring up to one third of attacks may involve bites! 'Re still wary of us and crocodiles do not have cutting teeth and must therefore rip any... Human contact rare, but larger individuals are killed and the other you ’ ll see in a league!, dark scales on most of the way, there are a few to. Is most likely to move toward humans and could potentially become aggressive irritated excessive... Snake or mature gator only talk about the American alligator deliver accurate and up-to-date to meters. These reptiles apart or females protecting their nests can leave a person greatly disfigured evidence from peer-reviewed journals, Medical! Serious and repeated attacks usually are made by alligators over 8 feet length. Is another rare form of inherited ichthyosis greatly disfigured to that effect is made alternative names for this are! Called osteoderms or scutes usually avoid human contact than females from mating males, although females can carry gene... On its back feet which help them to propel in the water to swallow whole powerful on legs! Periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality helping us swim in the place. Feet pose the greatest threat to people, and they almost went extinct ''. How fast alligators can ’ t maintain that speed over longer distances they. S hunting methods may also make the alligator thing twice the point they were almost wiped out by excessive.! The planet of day is also a factor in alligator attacks are but.
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