Some types of sharks such as great whites have a reputation for being fierce predators, the type that can easily capture prey. So, when a shark is noticed as part of the backdrop within a family picture after-the-fact, surprise is one expected emotion. On Friday, June Emerson snapped photos of her family enjoying time at Manhattan Beach. Emerson’s 12-year-old son Quinn is shown surfing in one of the photos in front of what appears to be an image of either a shark or a dolphin.

According to June Emerson, there are many who have concluded that the marine creature was a shark. “It was quite a shock to see [the photo].” Emerson said before adding, “Many local surfers and lifeguards have seen this and believe it to be a shark. Of course, I told my kids it was a dolphin, as we live at the beach and are in the waters here almost daily.”

At Manhattan Beach, a woman unknowingly took a photo of her son, his friend — and a shark. http://t.co/gDzlRuBm28 – pic.twitter.com/eUrGk6SJwa

— KTLA (@KTLA) December 29, 2013

The thought of being within feet of a shark may sound exciting and thrilling to some; however, Emerson shared a different take on the experience when interviewed by CBS2/KCAL9. “I’m not sure what it was, but it definitely scared me when I thought it might be a shark,” she said.

According to the Shark Research Committee, sharks are a diverse species. “Some sharks give live birth, some lay eggs. Some are carnivores and others survive on phytoplankton and zooplankton. Some sharks do not reach maturity until they are more than 10 years of age,” the Shark Research Committee website explains. Humans have entered the domain of many types of sharks.

The Shark Research Committee details three types of known shark encounters including: an unprovoked shark attack distinguished by an aggressive “striking” or display, a shark encounter where the shark circles the human without leading to any sort of violence, and white shark predation that involves the shark hunting down, capturing, and eating prey.

Image Via Twitter