The Collaborative International Dictionary
Snapping \Snap"ping\, a. & n. from Snap, v. Snapping beetle. (Zo["o]l.) See Snap beetle, under Snap. Snapping turtle. (Zo["o]l.)
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.
See Alligator snapper, under Alligator.
Trionyx \Tri*on"yx\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? (see Tri-) + ? a claw.] (Zo["o]l.) A genus of fresh-water or river turtles which have the shell imperfectly developed and covered with a soft leathery skin. They are noted for their agility and rapacity. Called also soft tortoise, soft-shell tortoise, and mud turtle.
Note: The common American species ( Trionyx ferox syn. Aspidonectus ferox) becomes over a foot in length and is very voracious. Similar species are found in Asia and Africa.
WordNet
n. bottom-dwelling freshwater turtle inhabiting muddy rivers of North America and Central America
Usage examples of "mud turtle".
Panting with exhaustion, Sir Hokus glared around to discover the cause of their disappearance and saw a giant mud turtle plowing determinedly toward him.
Before Sir Hokus could stop him or ask about his plan, the great mud turtle was flopping at a great pace across the marsh.
Its head was uncouth as that of a mud turtle, but more than a yard in length.
So absorbed was he in these thoughts that he nearly stumbled over a brown Mud Turtle at the Lily Pond's edge.
The highly trained and performing Mud Turtle with nine heads and seventeen tails, captured in a well-fortified hencoop, after a desperate struggle, in the lowlands of the Wabash!