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.

See Examples For:

alligator snapping turtle

The alligator snapping turtle discovered in Cumbria is off to a specialist reptile centre, with vets warning people against trying to get one for themselves.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2024

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

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2024

While it is not illegal to own an alligator snapping turtle, vets do not recommend keeping them as pets due their complicated needs.

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

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

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