Killer of killers jaguar brutally slays a 10ft-long alligator after pouncing from a river bank and dragging it out by its skull

Viewers were left stunned after a jaguar hunted a caiman by chomping on the back of its head as Planet Earth II headed to the jungle.

Sir David Attenborough took his faithful audience to the lush green forests and jungles of Madagascar and Brazil for the series' eagerly anticipated third episode.

While this week's installment moved at a slower pace, it was by no means without drama.

So far viewers have endured a lizard's nerve-shredding escape as it was hunted by scores of snakes and a female snow leopard being raped on a mountainside - but on tonight's episode it was another big cat taking centre-stage.

Jaguars, described as the 'killer of killers' by Sir David, were seen prowling along the banks of a river in a Brazilian jungle, looking for their next meal.

A slender female had her eyes set on a seemingly helpless pack of capybara swimming and basking in the sun.

The majestic big cat stalked its prey and viewers could feel that this week's body count was about to climb.

However, just as the cat readied to attack - the wily rodent sensed danger and calmly swam away, living to fight another day.

The female jaguar went hungry, but a male was to have more luck - and it was not the capybara he had in his sights.

The jaguar, with its unmistakable spotted coat, was captured stalking along the river bank before leaping with precision and agility into a bunch of reeds.

After a brief thrashing in the water it came out with a giant reptile lodged in its mouth - another powerful predator of the jungle - a caiman.

Jaguars know exactly how to hunt caiman, biting into the back of their skulls where they are at their weakest point.

The dramatic scene sent Twitter into a frenzy, with many viewers shocked that the cat would make such an audacious move.

Sophie wrote: "A jaguar predating [sic] a caiman, that's not something you see every day!"
While a shocked Danny Corr posted: "Jaguar v caiman!! Literally jaw-dropping!! #planetearth"

Nick Simpson-Eyre said: "This jaguar footage is incredible."

Rosh joked: "Capybara. Nah bruv. LETS GO GET A CROCODILE! #cray #planetearth"

A user by the name of Spiderkebab said: "#planetearth2 Mr Jaguar, 'I'll have my Caiman to go thanks"

Frances Barber said: "When BBC does nature, it does it like no one else on earth #planetearth2 amazing".

This week's episode of Planet Earth II also gave viewers an insight into both the flora and fauna of the jungle, focusing on different species of monkeys, birds, insects and types of trees that flourish there.

In particular the plight of the tiny glass frog, pulled at people's heartstrings.

The show used close up cameras to film the frog, which is the size of a finger nail, as it protected its spawn from a gang of wasps, using only its legs to bat away the predators.

There was also a chance to enjoy an insight into species that many would never have known to exist in the jungle - including a school of river dolphins.

Shots of the dolphins, which are almost blind, swimming in the murky waters of the Brazilian rain forest was a sight to behold, with the crew having to use specialised camera equipment to capture them in action.

However, it was the mating dance of a colourful bird-of-paradise that arguably stole the show.

The romantic Wilson's bird-of-paradise breed was shown to prune surrounding branches and the forest floor of greenery - in order to stand out, before performing a mating call.

Once he had attracted his beau he revealed eye-catching green plumage under his beak to beguile his mate.