Chelydra serpentina

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Chelydra serpentina
    n 1: large-headed turtle with powerful hooked jaws found in or
         near water; prone to bite [syn: {common snapping turtle},
         {snapper}, {Chelydra serpentina}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Snapping \Snap"ping\,
   a. & n. from {Snap}, v.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Snapping beetle}. (Zool.) See {Snap beetle}, under {Snap}.
      

   {Snapping turtle}. (Zool.)
   (a) A large and voracious aquatic turtle ({Chelydra
       serpentina}) common in the fresh waters of the United
       States; -- so called from its habit of seizing its prey
       by a snap of its jaws. Called also {mud turtle}.
   (b) See {Alligator snapper}, under {Alligator}.
       [1913 Webster]