Shark And Alligator Swim Side By Side In Incredibly Rare Footage

A shark and an alligator have been spotted swimming alongside one another in Florida.

While both predators are extremely common in the southern American state, it's slightly rarer to see them enjoying a paddle in the water together.

Gray Vinson posted the incredible footage to his Facebook account, showing the two animals making their way through the water in the Indian River in Vero Beach last weekend.

Sharing the clip to his page, Mr Vinson wrote: "It's not everyday you see a bull shark and a gator swimming together in the Indian river.

"I'm not so sure how the manatee made out."

And there were plenty of others who were blown away by the footage as well.

Commenting on the post, one user said: "Wow that's impressive footage. Good job! Big ole gator too!"

Gray Vinson

Another wrote: "Crazy and cool all at the same time."

A third said: "No flipping way?!!! My boys will never kayak with me again!!"

While another added: "Really cool videos. Even River monsters film crew didn't get that here."

Though some weren't as convinced as Mr Vinson as to whether the gator was, in fact, a gator.

Sharing their own take on it, one person said: "Wow!! Very cool!!! I'm going to have to say... that is a crocodile!!!

"I think they are all fascinating!! I definitely wouldn't want to meet up with any of them while I'm IN the water !!!"

According to the website for the estuary, the Indian River Lagoon, which is home to 4,000 plant and animal species, is 'the most bio-diverse habitat in North America'.

Gray Vinson

But it's safe to say that the gator - or croc - that Mr Vinson spotted wasn't quite as large as the monster that was spotted strolling across a Florida golf course last year.

Posted online back in November, a video showed a huge gator making its way across the course in Naples.

The footage was captured on the Valencia Golf and Country Club green, as the animal casually made its way across the grass before taking a dip in the water.

Many thought it was Photoshopped at first, owing to how ridiculously huge it is, but it was confirmed to be legit by Matt Devitt, a meteorologist with WINK News.

He said: "HUGE FLORIDA GATOR! Yep, this monster is real."

I'm still not convinced it's not a dinosaur, but I'll go with it, Matt.

Topics: Florida, US News, crocodile, Alligator

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom