alligator snapping turtle
- 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.
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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. 2018