Terrapin Pictured Hitching a Ride on Alligator's Back

Faline · #1 ● 09-01-2013, 01:31 PM

A ride on the back of this fearsome alligator holds no terra-pin for this colourful turtle.

Photographer Shawn Miller, 41, was gobsmacked to see the unusual friendship during a visit to Sea World in San Antonio, Texas.

He said: "I was looking out on the pond and noticed this particular alligator with the red-eared terrapin on his back.

"He was swimming around the pond slowly and the turtle was simply hitching a ride.

"Then as they began to go under this branch, seen in the picture, the terrapin tried stretching to grab the piece of moss hanging down from the branch.

"I had my camera ready and was lucky enough to get this frame."

The father-of-two added: "I think since they live in the same pond year round that they must have become very accustomed to each other and considered it no big deal to share the same space."