Main Entry: snapping turtle

Function: noun

Date: 1784

: either of two large American freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) with a large head, powerful jaws, a long tail, and a strong musky odor: a : one (Chelydra serpentina) that has the head covered with smooth skin, has large plates in a double row on the underside of the tail, and is distributed from eastern Canada to Central America b : alligator snapping turtle

[snapping turtle illustration]