alligator snapping turtle

noun

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alligator snapping turtle¹

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Example Sentences

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

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

What kind of person decides to let an alligator snapping turtle bite their rump? — the formula for a successful segment, Steve-O explained, is pretty simple.

From New York Times

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