snapping-turtle
Aggressive shelled predator
A snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle of North America with powerful jaws that snap shut forcefully when threatened.
The common snapping turtle and the larger alligator snapping turtle are both known for their aggressive temperament when encountered on land: We spotted a snapping turtle crossing the road.
Small still body
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
muddy · silt · creek · river · lake · brackish · riparian · water-lilies
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- jawBone holding teeth
tail · claws · shell · nuchal · bridge · marginal · keratin · dome-shaped
Hostile and confrontational
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- baskingWarming oneself pleasantly
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
lunging · biting · submerged · burrowing · hibernating · nesting · foraging · stalking
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
Before documented civilization
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- living-fossilUnchanged ancient species
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- ancientVery old indeed
primitive · unchanged · evolutionary · archaic · relict · persistent · survivor
pond
Small still body
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
freshwater · muddy · silt · creek · river · lake · brackish · riparian · water-lilies · duckweed
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
jaw · tail · claws · shell · nuchal · bridge · marginal · keratin · dome-shaped · ridged
aggressive
Hostile and confrontational
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- baskingWarming oneself pleasantly
ambush · lunging · biting · submerged · burrowing · hibernating · nesting · foraging · stalking · patient
chelonian
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
prehistoric
Before documented civilization
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- living-fossilUnchanged ancient species
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
ancient · primitive · unchanged · evolutionary · archaic · relict · persistent · survivor
predator
Organism that consumes others
fish · frogs · crayfish · minnows · tadpoles · ducklings · snails · vegetation · ecosystem · longevity
snapping-turtlebox turtle
Land reptile, hinged shell
tortoise · desert tortoise · painted turtle · Galápagos tortoise · gopher tortoise
snap, snapping, snapped, snaps, snapper, snappers, snappish, snappy, turtle