alligator snapping turtle
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.
Origin of alligator snapping turtle
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800
Also called alligator snapper.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019