Richard’s image has proved a hit on social media, as seen in this tweet

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The unusual raccoon-riding-alligator scene was caught on camera by Richard Jones while on a family excursion to the Ocala National Forest, reported the Florida Times-Union newspaper which adds that it has yet to verify the authenticity of the image.

In an email, Jones told the paper he had captured the ‘photo of a lifetime’ while exploring the Ocklawaha River.

Jones wrote: ‘Had a wonderful morning with the family in Ocala National forest and took an equally wonderful photo! We were walking along the Oaklawaha river watching some ‘gaters warm up in the morning (sic). My son went through some palm fronds to catch a different angle and frightened the raccoon.

‘It must have been asleep because it stumbled toward the water and hoped (sic) on top of the gator we were watching. I snapped a lucky picture right when the gator slipped into the water and before the raccoon jumped off and scurried away.

‘Without the context you’d think the raccoon was hitching a ride across the river. Pretty amazing.’

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