The leopard's cub first spies something in the bushes and assumes an attack position. The mother then investigates and takes a swipe at snake, causing it to lunge at her with its mouth wide open.

The snake bears a leopard print-like pattern on its scales, which experts say is a genetic mutation. A unique diamondback rattlesnake was discovered near Scottsdale, Ariz., on Saturday, May 10.

Though the leopard-like pattern is extremely rare, snake aficionados do occasionally find wild serpents with mutations. Typically, however, the mutations show up as stripes or missing patterns.