any of a family (Chelydridae) of large freshwater turtles of North America, with a small shell and powerful jaws which snap with great force, esp., a common species (Chelydra serpentina)
See snapping turtle in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of several large freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae of North, Central, and northern South America, having a rough shell and powerful hooked jaws that close with a snap, especially the common North American species Chelydra serpentina and the alligator snapping turtle of the south-central United States.