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Snapjaw

Article Discussion
This article is about the crocodilian enemy that first appeared in the Donkey Kong Jr. game. For the piranha-like enemy of the same name, see Snapjaw (Donkey Kong Country 2). For the crocodilian enemy from Yoshi's Island DS, see Snap Jaw.
Snapjaw
A Snapjaw from Mario vs. Donkey Kong on Nintendo Switch.
Artwork from Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
First appearance Donkey Kong Jr. (1982)
Latest appearance Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024)
Variants
Comparable

Snapjaws,[1] also known as snapping jaws,[2] are enemies in the Donkey Kong and Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. These mechanical creatures resemble a cross between an alligator and a living bear trap. They attack with gnashing teeth and are able to travel along vines.

HistoryEdit

Donkey Kong seriesEdit

Donkey Kong Jr.Edit

                 
Snapjaws as they appear in the arcade (blue and red), Famicom/NES (blue and red), and Atari 2600 versions of Donkey Kong Jr.

Snapjaws first appear in the game Donkey Kong Jr. Here, they are used by Mario in an attempt to defeat Donkey Kong Jr. Like Kong, Snapjaws can climb vines. Whereas blue Snapjaws simply fall off a vine when they reach the end of it, the red variety thrown by Mario can continually climb up and down vines and move on platforms. Snapjaws can only be defeated by dropping fruit on top of them. In this game, they appear as fanged monsters with a chain behind them, similar to Chain Chomps.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)Edit

 

In the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong, Snapjaws appear in Stage 2-4 in the Forest and three stages of the Jungle. They act much as they do in their previous appearance, and Snapjaws thrown by Donkey Kong act like the blue ones of Donkey Kong Jr.; however, as color is unused to differentiate between enemy types, these Snapjaws have spiked bodies and shorter snouts. Snapjaws can be defeated with fruit or a hammer. They are said to have become Donkey Kong's companion and betrayed Mario.[3]

Captain N: The Game MasterEdit

 
Snapjaws in Captain N: The Game Master.

Snapjaws appear in the episode "Queen of the Apes" of Captain N: The Game Master, where they attack Kevin and Simon Belmont while they're looking for Donkey Kong (in Game Boy's body). Like many entities in the series, they are very off-model, being depicted as piranhas with large underbites (incidentally similar to the creature of the same name from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest).

Super Mario Kodanasha seriesEdit

In Super Mario Kart 1 of the Super Mario Kodansha manga, while reunited with the Kongs, Mario recalls his role in Donkey Kong Jr. when he threw Snapjaws at Donkey Kong Jr. as he tried to save his father. During the race, Donkey Kong tells his ally Bowser to keep his kidnapping instinct at bay, like he is doing. In response to that, Mario approaches the Kongs' kart while waving a Snapjaw, claiming that he is ready to protect Lady if they give in to their instinct. The Snapjaws are depicted as simple snakes.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong seriesEdit

Mario vs. Donkey KongEdit

 
A Snapjaw in Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
 

Snapjaws reappear in Mario vs. Donkey Kong. They appear in Donkey Kong Jungle, and have spikes instead of chains. They act similarly to normal red Snapjaws, but move at a less rapid speed when going down a vine, and can change direction in the middle of a vine. The ones that appear in the fifth stage have a red and green coloration, whereas Donkey Kong tosses Snapjaws with a blue and purple palette in the DK stage. These Snapjaws do not fall off their vine; rather, they will climb up a vine approximately twice, at which point they will vanish. Unlike in the Game Boy Donkey Kong, Snapjaws can be defeated with fruit, but not a hammer.

The Nintendo Switch version gives Snapjaws a new design that makes the teeth on the respective upper and lower jaws the same color as said jaws, as well as making them flatter to give them more of a toy-like appearance than the games that came before it. However, their design remains largely faithful to both the original game's sequel and its DSi counterpart.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the MinisEdit

 
A Snapjaw in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis

Snapjaws reappear in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis floor Jungle Hijinks, having a slightly updated appearance. During levels, they eat leafy vines as they move through them, and if a Mini Mario touches one, the Mini Mario will be defeated. During the boss battle against Donkey Kong, three of them repeatedly travel down and up ropes, and fruit can once again defeat them.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!Edit

Snapjaws reappear in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! floor Jungle Rumble. They serve a similar capacity in the boss battle against Donkey Kong, except they spawn from the top of the ropes over time.

WarioWare: Move It!Edit

A Snapjaw appears in the WarioWare: Move It! microgame Donkey Kong Jr., where it is seen giving chase. Donkey Kong Jr. should climb up the vines and reach the platform without getting caught by the Snapjaw, because otherwise, it will instantly defeat him, resulting in a loss.

Other appearancesEdit

A Snapjaw is depicted as the SHOW option's cursor in the Game Boy Camera accessory.

Profiles and statisticsEdit

Perfect Ban Mario Character DaijitenEdit

スナップジョウ (JP) / Snapjaw (EN)
 
Original text (Japanese) Translation
種族しゅぞく ビースト族ぞく Tribe Beast clan
性格せいかく お天気屋てんきや Disposition Moody person
登場とうじょうゲーム ＪＲジュニア、ＧＢゲームボーイドンキー Game appearances Jr., GB Donkey
ツルを昇のぼる大口おおぐちのワニ

大おおきな口くちを開あけ、ツルを昇のぼり降おりして追おいかけてくるワニのモンスター。ドンキーＪＲジュニアではマリオの手下てしたとして働はたらいたが、ＧＢゲームボーイドンキーではドンキーコングの仲間なかまになってマリオを裏切うらぎった。[3]

A large-mouthed crocodile ascending a vine

An crocodile monster that opens its large mouth and chases after you by climbing up and down vines. In Donkey Jr., it worked as Mario's lackey, but in GB Donkey, it became Donkey Kong's companion and betrayed Mario.

GalleryEdit

NamingEdit

Internal namesEdit

Game File Name Meaning

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis data/data/anims/alligator_anim.bin alligator -
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) Model/Snapjaw.bfres.zs Snapjaw -

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スナップジョー[4] / スナップジョウ[3]
Sunappujō 		Snapjaw
かみつきワニ[5]
Kamitsuki Wani 		Snapping Crocodile
Chinese (simplified) 猛游食人鱼[15]
Měngyóu Shírényú 		Literally "Fiercely Swimming Piranha"
French Mâchoire[6][7] Jawbone
Mâchoire d'Acier[6] Steel Jawbone
German Beißer[6] Biter
Krokodil[8] Crocodile
Italian Minicoccodrillo[9][10] Minicrocodile
Mandibola Mangiagorilla[11] Gorilla-eater Jaw Donkey Kong Jr. (NES)
Coccodrillo[12] Crocodile Club Nintendo
Mordimordi[6] Bitebite Donkey Kong Jr. (ATARI)
Tagliola[13][14] Beartrap Game & Watch series
Spanish Mandibula[6] Mandible

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ 1985. Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 5.
  2. ^ "He's chasing me with snapping jaws, and I could fall!" – 1983. Donkey Kong Jr. - "Help Save Papa!" (Commercial, 1983) (0:17). English. Retrieved April 4, 2025 from YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c 1994. 「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten). Shogakukan (Japanese). Page 95.
  4. ^ Japanese arcade instruction card, Famicom manual, and FDS manual for Donkey Kong Jr.
  5. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book[page number needed]
  6. ^ a b c d e Donkey Kong Junior Atari computer version manual (International)[page number needed]
  7. ^ French ColecoVision manual[page number needed]
  8. ^ German ColecoVision manual
  9. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (3DS - Virtual Console) Italian e-manual. Nintendo (Italian). Page 8.
  10. ^ «Sali e scendi con liane e catene e destreggiati fra le varie insidie, schivando disgustose bestiole come minicoccodrilli e volatili per arrivare alle chiavi che aprono la gabbia in cui è rinchiuso Donkey Kong.» – Description. Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online. Italian.
  11. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (NES), back of the Italian box
  12. ^ Fletcher, John, editor in chief (1995). "Donkey Kong Classics" in Club Nintendo Numero 5/6. Linea Gig S.p.a., Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Italian). Page 33.
  13. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. Italian booklet[page number needed]
  14. ^ Donkey Kong II Italian booklet[page number needed]
  15. ^ GAME&WATCH. ique.com (Simplified Chinese). Retrieved July 4, 2024.
[Edit]
Donkey Kong Jr.
Characters Donkey Kong Jr. • Donkey Kong • Mario
Enemies Bird • Drop* • Egg • Nitpicker • Snapjaw • Spark
Items Fruit • Key
Objects Chain • Jump Board • Pole • Vine
Rounds Vine Scene • Jump Board Scene • Mario's Hideout • Chain Scene
Other Donkey Kong Jr. (board game) • Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson • Donkey Kong Junior (playing cards) • Gallery • Game Sound Museum: Donkey Kong Jr. • Multimedia • Nintendo Music (soundtrack) • Pre-release and unused content • Staff
* Only appears in the Coleco Adam version
[Edit]
Donkey Kong (Game Boy)
Characters Donkey Kong • Donkey Kong Jr. • Mario • Pauline
Levels Construction Site Stage 0-1 • Stage 0-2 • Stage 0-3 • Stage 0-4
Big-City Stage 1-1 • Stage 1-2 • Stage 1-3 • Stage 1-4 • Stage 1-5 • Stage 1-6 • Stage 1-7 • Stage 1-8
Forest Stage 2-1 • Stage 2-2 • Stage 2-3 • Stage 2-4 • Stage 2-5 • Stage 2-6 • Stage 2-7 • Stage 2-8 • Stage 2-9 • Stage 2-10 • Stage 2-11 • Stage 2-12
Ship Stage 3-1 • Stage 3-2 • Stage 3-3 • Stage 3-4 • Stage 3-5 • Stage 3-6 • Stage 3-7 • Stage 3-8
Jungle Stage 4-1 • Stage 4-2 • Stage 4-3 • Stage 4-4 • Stage 4-5 • Stage 4-6 • Stage 4-7 • Stage 4-8 • Stage 4-9 • Stage 4-10 • Stage 4-11 • Stage 4-12
Desert Stage 5-1 • Stage 5-2 • Stage 5-3 • Stage 5-4 • Stage 5-5 • Stage 5-6 • Stage 5-7 • Stage 5-8 • Stage 5-9 • Stage 5-10 • Stage 5-11 • Stage 5-12
Airplane Stage 6-1 • Stage 6-2 • Stage 6-3 • Stage 6-4 • Stage 6-5 • Stage 6-6 • Stage 6-7 • Stage 6-8
Iceberg Stage 7-1 • Stage 7-2 • Stage 7-3 • Stage 7-4 • Stage 7-5 • Stage 7-6 • Stage 7-7 • Stage 7-8 • Stage 7-9 • Stage 7-10 • Stage 7-11 • Stage 7-12
Rocky-Valley Stage 8-1 • Stage 8-2 • Stage 8-3 • Stage 8-4 • Stage 8-5 • Stage 8-6 • Stage 8-7 • Stage 8-8 • Stage 8-9 • Stage 8-10 • Stage 8-11 • Stage 8-12 • Stage 8-13 • Stage 8-14 • Stage 8-15 • Stage 8-16
Tower Stage 9-1 • Stage 9-2 • Stage 9-3 • Stage 9-4 • Stage 9-5 • Stage 9-6 • Stage 9-7 • Stage 9-8 • Stage 9-9
Allies Jumper • Monchee
Abilities Crouch • Handstand / Handstand Jump • Backflip • Wire Spin • Roll
Items and objects 1 UP Heart • Bird Nest • Bolt • Conveyor Belt • Crumble Block • Door • Girder • Hammer • Ice Block • Jump Stand • Key • Ladder • Lift • Parasol, Hat & Bag • Road • Rope • Rope (wire) • Super Hammer • Switch • Trash Can
Enemies and obstacles Aqua Man • Arumajiron • Barrel • Bird • Bowbow • Bukubuku • Cannon • Cement tub • Chikuchiku • Dorakyū • Dōryī • Dotty • Dust Man • Faiachū • Fire • Fireball • Furafurawā • Gessori • Giant Donkey Kong • Golem • Gyātoru • Hawks • Icicle • Jack • Kaibādo • Kānyī • Miira • Ottō • Oil • Oil drum • Penpen • Purupuru• Rappy • Robo NO.1 • Rokkun • Sairesu • Sir Shovalot • Skeleton • Snapjaw • Sniper • Spark • Sukōpī • Thwomp Platform • Tododesu • Tsutan'ōmen • Walking Block • Wire Trap
Other Gallery • Multimedia • Staff
[Edit]
Captain N: The Game Master
Episodes "Simon the Ape-Man" • "Queen of the Apes" • "The Lost City of Kongoland"
Characters Donkey Kong • Dr. Wiley • Gameboy • Kid Icarus • Konga • Major Dolo • Mega Man • Megaplant • Mother Brain • Prince Plenty • Simon Belmont • Snapjaw • The Count
Miscellaneous Brain Swapper • Brainwashing Machine • Captain N & The Video Game Masters • Kongoland • Staff • Warp Zone
[Edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Game Boy Advance) / Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
Characters Donkey Kong • Mario • Mini-Mario • Toadb • Toads
Worlds Regular worlds Mario Toy Company • Donkey Kong Jungle • Fire Mountain • Merry Mini-Landb • Spooky House • Slippery Summitb • Mystic Forest • Twilight City • vs. Donkey Kong
Plus worlds Mario Toy Factory • Donkey Kong Jungle Plus • Fire Mountain Plus • Merry Mini-Land Plusb • Spooky House Plus • Slippery Summit Plusb • Mystic Forest Plus • Twilight City Plus • vs. Donkey Kong Plus
Extra world Expert
e World Mario vs. Donkey Kong-ea
Enemies and obstacles Bat • Bird • Bob-omb • Bob-omb Block • Boo • Brickman • Bucket Man • Candle • Cannon • Falling spike • Fire bird • Fire Shy Guy • Fireball • Ice Blockb • Icicleb • Laser • Lava Geyser • Monchee • Ninji • Oil • Podoboo • Polterguy • RamRam • Robo Kikki • Shy Guy • Sir Shovalot • Snapjaw • Spear Guy • Spike • Spiked Barrel • Tane Pakkun • Thwimp • Thwomp • Thwomp Platform • Wire Trap • Wrench Shy Guy
Abilities Crouch • Handstand / Handstand Jump • Jump • Backflip • Wire Spin • Spring Jump
Items and objects 1-Up Mushroom • 2 UPa • 3 UPa • 5 UPa • Barrel • Bird Nest • Chain • Checkpoint Flagb • Color Block • Color Switch • Conveyor Belt • Crumble Block • Direction Switch • Donut Block • Door • Elevator • Flower Fanb • Flying keyb • Garbage Can • Girder • Hammer • Help Box • Key • Ladder • Letter Block • Present • Rope • Spring • Toy box • Warp Boxb • Wire
Other Gallery (GBA · Switch) • Mario Toy Company • Mario vs. Donkey Kong (sliding puzzle) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong (jigsaw puzzle) • Mini-Mario Factory Game! • Plus Mode • Pre-release and unused content • Quotes • Staff (GBA · Switch) • Time Attackb
a Exclusive to Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance
b Exclusive to Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Nintendo Switch
[Edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
Characters Mario • Donkey Kong • Pauline • Toads
Minis Mini Mario • Gold Mini Mario • Fire Mini Mario • Mini Toad • Mini Peach • Mini Donkey Kong
Enemies Bird • Blooper • Bob-omb • Bob-omb Fish • Candle • Cuttacutta • Fire Bar • Fireball • Jack • Magnet Sparky • Monkey robots (Capture Kong · Circus Kong · Cool Kong · Crash Kong · Kongā) • Mummy Guy • Piranha Plant • Phantom Guy • Podoboo • Shy Guy • Snapjaw • Snifit • Spyguy • Swoop • Thwomp
Floors DK's Hideout • Mushroom Mayhem • Tropical Island • Pipe Works • Magnet Mania • Lava Dome • Toadstool Castle • Spooky Attic • Jungle Hijinks • Roof
Items and objects ? Block • Balance Beam • Blue Spring • Bolt • Coin (large) • Color Blocks (Bomb Block · Fire Block · Magnetic Block · Pink Block) • Color Switch • Conveyor belt • Crumble Block • Donut Block • Elevator • Fire Flower • Girder • Hammer • Lava Fountain • Log • Magnet Ground • Mini Mario Card • Moving Platform • Raft • Rotate Pipe • Rotating Magnet Stick • Spike • Swing Bar • Vine • Wall Jump Bar • Water Valve • Warp Pipe • Yellow Spring
Miscellaneous Cannon Kaos • Construction Zone • Gallery • Gu Ball Ire Game • Mini Mario Desktop Buddy • Shy Guy Smash! • Special Kit 1 • Special Kit 2 • Special Kit 3 • Staff
[Edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
Characters Mario • Pauline • Donkey Kong • Toads
Minis Mini Mario • Mini Toad • Mini Peach • Mini Donkey Kong
Floors Mini Mayhem • Sandstone Stroll • Magnet Mania • Jungle Rumble • Rooftop • Basement
Items and objects Blue Spring • Box Spring • Cannon • Clock • Coin (large) • Color Switch • Conveyor Belt • Door • Girder • Hammer • Key • Key Door • Ladder • M-Token • Magnet • Mini Mario Card • Pink Block • Pokey Block • Pop-up Gate • Rotate Pipe • Shy Guy Block • Spike • Spin-bar magnet • Warp Pipe • Yellow Spring
Enemies Monkey robots (Capture Kong · Circus Kong) • Bird • Piranha Plant (fire) • Pokey • Polterguy • Snapjaw • Snifit • Spear Guy • Thwomp
Miscellaneous Multimedia • Plus Mode • Staff • Super Mini Mario World
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