snapping turtle

noun

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of snapping turtle

: 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

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Recent Examples of snapping turtle from the Web

Another moutza to Preston Junior High School science teacher Robert Crossland, who reportedly fed a live puppy to a snapping turtle, so the kids could see nature in action.

— john kass, chicagotribune.com, "Sister Jean may forgive you, but you've earned the Golden Moutza of March," 30 Mar. 2018
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture in a statement Friday says snapping turtles are an invasive species in Idaho requiring a permit.

— CBS News, "Authorities euthanize turtle amid reports it was fed sick puppy in science class," 17 Mar. 2018
In a statement released Friday, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture said snapping turtles are an invasive species in Idaho requiring a permit.

— Fox News, "Turtle euthanized as row continues over reports it ate a puppy," 16 Mar. 2018
The same bill also prohibits the commercial sale of Connecticut snapping turtles, which experts say could be threatened by commercial harvesting for sale as food.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "Bill Would Ban Importing Red-Eared Slider Turtles Into Connecticut," 19 Mar. 2018
Officials in Idaho have euthanized a snapping turtle at the center of an investigation over whether a biology teacher gave it a sick puppy to eat in front of students.

— Fox News, "Turtle euthanized as row continues over reports it ate a puppy," 16 Mar. 2018
Controversy is swirling around a junior high science teacher in Idaho who has been accused of feeding a puppy to a snapping turtle after school, multiple news outlets report.

— kc baker, PEOPLE.com, "Middle-School Science Teacher Investigated After Accusation He Fed Puppy to Turtle in Class," 14 Mar. 2018
East Idaho News, citing a law enforcement source, reports that teacher Robert Crosland fed a puppy to a snapping turtle in front of students.

— CBS News, "Idaho science teacher reportedly feeds puppy to snapping turtle in front of students," 13 Mar. 2018
Not all turtles regulate their sexes this way, but snapping turtles are like green sea turtles in this regard.

— ben guarino, Washington Post, "Climate change is turning 99 percent of these baby sea turtles female," 8 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snapping turtle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.