alligator snapping turtle

American

noun

a large American snapping turtle, Macroclemys temmincki, having three prominent ridges on its shell and a wormlike process on the floor of the mouth used to attract prey.

Etymology

Origin of alligator snapping turtle

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Compare meaning

How does alligator-snapping-turtle compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

snapping turtle vs. alligator snapping turtle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A small alligator snapping turtle pulled from a lake in Cumbia has been nicknamed Fluffy.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2024

An invasive alligator snapping turtle has been pulled from a Cumbrian tarn.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2024

The service proposed threatened status in April for the related Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, found in the Suwannee River basin in Georgia and Florida.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2021

It features animals such as white-tailed deer, jackrabbit, alligator snapping turtle, lake sturgeon, blue jay and roseate spoonbill.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2021

I always loved the huge alligator snapping turtle, watch your hands, but the huge gars, alligator gars and catfish are gone forever.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023