Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made. Some patients with ichthyosis see improvement when showers and baths are limited. Interesting article. The biggest ever recorded gator was caught off Marsh Island in Louisiana in the 1890s and measured an enormous 19 ft 2 ins (5.85 m). Ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common form of inherited 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. Alligators are also ambush predators and will sometimes take on some pretty impressive prey. These scales are usually found near large joints and are susceptible to blisters and infection. Also, humans are not really on the menu. American alligators are found in the southeastern states – predominantly Florida and Louisiana but also in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas and certain parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Pay attention. This includes ponds, lakes, swamps, wetlands, marshes and rivers. Simpson has written and edited content for outlets such as 4Kids Entertainment, Discovery Channel, FOX Television and MSN. X-linked ichthyosis is another inherited form of ichthyosis. Keep an eye on your surroundings near fresh or brackish waters. Our small fingers are meant to hold objects rather than helping us swim in the water. Strangely enough it seems that a fair few of these big carnivores are found in the number one retirement state. Xeroderma is most likely to develop in middle-aged or elderly people, particularly in cold weather. Gators generally do not attack humans for a number of reasons, but mainly because we are simply too large for gators to deal with. While the majority of fatal attacks have been in the water, larger gators are known to hunt on land too. I learned some stuff. The fearsome predator is being hunted after police saw … 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). X-linked ichthyosis is another inherited form of ichthyosis. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Florida where there are plenty of gators and people. In fact over recent years there has been an average of one fatality a year. This is certainly true of the developed world, and no more so than the U.S. The alligator’s hunting methods may also bring them into contact with humans. 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. Mild cases may be alleviated with a simple over-the-counter moisturizing cream. There are two different types of alligator, and they vary in size. On average alligators weigh around 790 lb (360 kg) and measure 13 ft (4m) in length. It is important to moisturize directly after bathing or showering. 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. It is possible for people to acquire ichthyosis from certain diseases or drugs. Xeroderma is a very mild form of ichthyosis that can develop at any time. Ichthyosis vulgaris is a genetic disease that causes dry, itchy skin that resembles scales. But I have a question. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) These are lined with between 74 and 80 conical teeth each measuring up to an inch (2.5 cm) in length. Alligators and crocodiles do not have cutting teeth and must therefore rip apart any prey that is too big to swallow whole. 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. There are several reasons why an alligator might attack a human. Cases involving kayakers are rare, but not unheard of. Soaps that dry out the skin should also be avoided. The World's Deadliest and most dangerous... November 1, 2016 by Chris Simons 2 Comments. It does not attack humans but apparently does feed on corpses set afloat in funeral ceremonies on the Ganges River. Alligators seldom bite people unless they are looking for food. There are reckoned to be over a million alligators in Florida alone. Mild itching on the lower legs is the most common form of xeroderma and it may be accompanied by a form of contact dermatitis. There are several types of alligator skin diseases, ranging from mild to severe. 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. Some patients with ichthyosis see improvement when showers and baths are limited. Leave alligators alone. The first is to ask yourself, “Am I in the southern states of the U.S.A. (or on the Yangtze river)?”. 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? Fact 10: Alligators are outstanding mothers. The cycle persists until the alligator one day approaches someone in the water that has no food other than … By by DAVID CAPLAN. There are actually two living species of alligators; the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis) and the American alligator (A. mississippiensis). Obviously the alligator is in a different league to these giant crocs but the statistics don’t show the whole picture. The alligator’s primary killing equipment are its jaws. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. It affects only males, although females can carry the gene that causes x-linked ichthyosis. Alligators generally tend to avoid attacking humans. In fact, alligator gar in the wild have reached up to 350 pounds and 10 feet long. The name alligator is believed to have come from the early Spanish explorers of America who named these enormous reptiles “el legarto” meaning “big lizard“. The 17-year-old was taken to the hospital. A lifelong condition, those with lamellar ichthyosis are susceptible to skin infections and may be intolerant to heat. At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. They have four short legs; the front legs have five toes while the back legs have only four toes. A lifelong condition, those with lamellar ichthyosis are susceptible to skin infections and may be intolerant to heat. Medscape. The alligator has a broader U-shaped snout compared to the longer, thinner V-shaped snout of the croc. Do not feed alligators. About Ichthyosis. This type of hunting usually takes place at night so mistaken identity is a real possibility. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data. 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. The skin on their back is armored with embedded bony plates called osteoderms or scutes. Your email address will not be published. "They have been hunted since the Europeans got to the US, and they almost went extinct." Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is another rare form of inherited ichthyosis. 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]. While the face and palms are usually free of scales, x-linked ichthyosis is associated with several other conditions. 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. 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. Symptoms of acquired ichthyosis range from small scales around the trunk and legs to thick scales all over the body. 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’. Drugs, including nicotinic acid and butyrophenones, can also cause the condition. The disease can develop early in childhood, sometimes before the age of 4, according to the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia 1. I’m seeing uppers and lowers. Like others in the croc family gators are armor-plated making it pretty hard to stop one with anything short of a hunting rifle. 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. The young have brigh… Whilst the record was surpassed by a 17 ft (5.5 m) saltwater croc in 2012 with a reading of 3,700 psi this is still an awesomely powerful bite. All cases of ichthyosis should be treated with moisturizers. 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. Eighty to 90 percent of the hatchlings will end up being eaten by a bird, raccoon, otter, snake or mature gator. Caimans have scaly skin, and live a fairly nocturnal existence. Generally speaking alligators are afraid of humans having been hunted for centuries up to the point they were almost wiped out. 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