Most Florida picture ever: Alligator casually surfs on the back of a manatee

Alligators do not generally have a reputation for being chilled out but this one is clearly not concerned about that.

The giant reptile was seen surfing on the back of a manatee in a canal in Jacksonville, Florida, without a care in the world.

Whether it was out for a thrill ride or was just feeling lazy, the alligator’s actions are not exactly common.

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Dana Menk, who shared the picture on Facebook, told The Dodo: “Took me a minute to realise what I was seeing.

”In 40-plus years of living in Florida, it was a first for me.”

The pair apparently moved along the water for about 100ft before separating – and it may have been the manatee who wanted the hook-up in the first place.

Dana added: “I’ve seen manatees scratch their back on kayaks and structures, so who knows, maybe she was getting a back scratch.”

The picture was described by some commenters as “the most Florida picture ever”.

Top pic: Facebook/Dana Menk/MyFWC