A surprising group of five sharks and a single alligator were seen together in the waters near South Carolina, alarming people who had planned to swim at a well-known tourist spot.
The strange scene was visible near a dock in Hilton Head as the large sharks moved freely without concern, while a resting alligator remained nearby in the shade, as shown in videos taken by amazed tourists.
A few children observed intently, seated between the planks of the dock's railing, hoping to witness a legendary confrontation.
Rather, the group of sharks barely noticed the inquisitive alligator.
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"I've been coming to Hilton Head since I was 12, and I've never witnessed anything like this," Gina Athans, whorecorded one of the trending videos, told The Island Packet.
Sharks and alligators usually inhabit different types of water environments. Sharks are mainly located in saltwater, often in deep ocean areas, while alligators move between land and freshwater swamps.
Citrus sharks, which are frequently found in South Carolina, favor warmer water sources, although they seldom venture very deep into freshwater environments, as per theFlorida Museum.
This doesn't prevent either species from being drawn to the brackish water at Skull Creek Dockside — a mix of salt and fresh water.
The two large creatures typically live together when they are roughly the same size, Morgan Hart, the Alligator Project Leader for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said to the outlet. However, if one encounters a young one that can be easily caught, anything goes.
The predator powwow caused social media users to laugh uncontrollably.
"the alligator popping out like 'guuuuurl, what is goin awwwwn?'," one user remarked.
"The alligator was like, 'Nope, I'm backing off," another person said.
"Look at South Carolina out here Floridaing," another person joked.