A mind-blowing photo of a snake wrapping around a bird's beak mid-flight is going viral - and the internet can't decide if it's a real moment or some AI-generated art.
To the shock of many, it turns out to be a very real photograph.
According to the Florida Wildlife photographer, Marcos Rodriguez, the shot came after a brutal 20-minute battle in the wild between a Great Blue Heron and a banded water snake that blurred the line between predator and prey.
The photo was captured and entered into National Geographic's 'Your Shot: Our Home' Earth Month challenge.
The intense image shows the heron mid-snatch, gripping the snake with its beak as the reptile coils upward in a desperate attempt to break free.
'For a great shot to be possible, being at the right place at the right time is what ignites the chance to create magic,' wrote Rodriguez, who goes by @wild.tigre on Instagram.
'That was me at this moment, where I noticed the split second the Great Blue Heron was pulling the banded water snake from the marsh.'
'What ensued was a 20-minute-long battle for survival, where the lines between predator and prey blurred more than once.'
A mind-blowing photo of a snake wrapping around a bird's beak mid-flight is going viral - and the internet can't decide if it's a real moment or some AI-generated art
'The snake put in a valiant effort to break free, but in the end lost the battle, as the GBH's determination earned it a well-deserved meal (insert spaghetti slurp sound).'
The photo is one of many submitted for NatGeo's #NatGeoYourShotOurHOME Earth Month challenge, which invites photographers around the world to showcase the wild beauty of our planet.
He captioned the set of photos: 'Some wear flower crowns, others wear snakes' on Instagram.
'This one is dedicated to everyone who commented on the first picture saying it was A.I (Absolutely Insane), Thank you!'
Users were completely captivated by the thrilling image - with one commenting: 'Do you sell prints? This is one of the most striking photos I've ever seen!'
'Insane shot,' another user chimed in.
Another amazed user wrote: 'This is the craziest picture I have ever seen.'
One curious commenter asked: 'Did she kill him? Or did he escape?'
The challenge is being guest-curated by National Geographic Explorer and SECRETS OF THE PENGUINS filmmaker Bertie Gregory, who will select 10-15 top images to be featured in a sizzle video dropping April 30.
Another gorgeous photograph captures the timeless moment three massive humpback whales are revealed taking the journey along the east coast of Australia during their annual migration.
Photographer Ioana Catalina or @ioana.catalina.e submitted a captivating image of a Sally Lightfoot crab in the Galápagos Islands
Another striking entry comes from photographer Dhaval Bhadania or @dhaval_bhadania , who captured a touching urban wildlife moment beneath a city overpass
It will run through Earth Day, which lands on April 22.
Those who want to join can share photos that celebrate the beauty of our planet this month using #NatGeoYourShotOurHOME now through Earth Day.
Gregory will be sharing his favorites on @NatGeoYourShot.
The snake-vs-heron shot has earned its moment in the spotlight but was not selected by NatGeo or Bertie Gregory, however, it was submitted using the hashtag.
A breathtaking video taken by photographer Mark O'Neill or @mark_escapades_photography on Instagram was one chosen by Gregory.
The striking video depicts a whitetip reef shark gliding effortlessly beneath him on a dive in the Great Barrier Reef.
'While diving in the Great Barrier Reef, I came across a magnificent whitetip reef shark gliding gracefully below me, entirely unbothered by my presence. It was a remarkable sight that I fully embraced,' O'Neill said.
'The whitetip reef shark is a medium-sized species easily recognized by its white-tipped dorsal and tail fins,' he continued.
'These sharks are nocturnal, hunting at night while spending their days resting in caves or on the ocean floor. Their diet includes octopuses, crustaceans, and various reef fish including eels, snapper, and triggerfish.'
Wildlife photographer François Potvin trekked through deep snow to capture this rare northern hawk owl perched watchfully among winter-stripped trees in Canada's remote northern forest
Adorable Asiatic lion cub caught snoozing on a warm sand path as it escapes winter, captured by photographer Hardik Shelat
Herd of bison carved their path through pristine Yellowstone snow before vanishing minutes later, captured by photographer Leviticus Wright during winter hike preparations
Another gorgeous photograph captures the timeless moment three massive humpback whales are revealed taking the journey along the east coast of Australia during their annual migration.
The photo taken by an Australian based photographer Tim Burgess is captioned: 'Each year, more than 40,000 humpback whales journey along the east coast of Australia during their annual migration.'
'It's a timeless moment that connects us to the ocean. As they travel along our shores, we are reminded that the vast blue wilderness is not just theirs or ours, but a shared home.'
'Protecting the water ensures that future generations, both human and marine, can continue to call it home.'
Another striking entry comes from photographer Dhaval Bhadania or @dhaval_bhadania, who captured a touching urban wildlife moment beneath a city overpass.
'During one of my regular Sunday outings, while passing below an overbridge, I noticed these bank mynas coming out from a hole in the bridge wall,' he wrote.
'The mynas had made their nest in the hole. I waited there and watched them for some time.'
'These types of bird behaviors and unexpected sightings prompt me to capture more amazing moments and share my visual stories.'
Photographer Aya Okawa captured the twisted kamahi trees dripping with moss and surrounded by dense ferns at the base of New Zealand's dormant Mount Taranaki volcano
Photographer Jassen Todorov captured a potentially active volcano, Mount Shasta, which is a sacred peak in Native American lore
Photographer Ioana Catalina or @ioana.catalina.e submitted a captivating image of a Sally Lightfoot crab in the Galápagos Islands.
'Visiting the Galápagos Islands for the first time felt like stepping into a living documentary, surrounded by breathtaking wildlife,' Catalina wrote.
'On the rugged shores of Santa Cruz, a Sally Lightfoot crab caught my eye. It stood out like a flicker of fire against the volcanic rock. As waves crashed toward it, the tiny creature remained still-unshaken, completely at home in the wild rhythm of the Galápagos.'