Snapjaw

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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] 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.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong series[edit]

Donkey Kong Jr.[edit]

A blue Snapjaw from Donkey Kong Jr.   A red Snapjaw from Donkey Kong Jr.   Sprite of a blue Snapjaw from the Nintendo Entertainment System port of Donkey Kong Jr.   DKJrNESRedSnapjaw.png   Sprite of a Snapjaw from the Atari 2600 port of Donkey Kong Jr.
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]

Snapjaw(compressed)

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.[2]

Captain N: The Game Master[edit]

Snapjaw
Snapjaws in Captain N: The Game Master.

Snapjaws appear in the episode titled "Queen of the Apes" of Captain N: The Game Master. 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).

Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]

Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]

Snapjaw artwork from the ending credits.
A Snapjaw in Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
Snapjaw

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 Minis[edit]

Artwork of a Snapjaw, as seen in the staff credits of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis.
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 appearances[edit]

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

Profiles and statistics[edit]

Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten[edit]

スナイパー (JP) / Snapjaw (EN)
A Snapjaw from Donkey Kong Jr. andDonkey Kong for the Game Boy.
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。[2]

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.

Gallery[edit]

  • Donkey Kong Jr.

    Donkey Kong Jr.

  • Donkey Kong Jr.

    Donkey Kong Jr.

  • Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom)

    Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom)

  • Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom)

    Donkey Kong Jr. (Famicom)

  • Concept artwork of Snapjaws in Captain N: The Game Master

    Concept artwork of Snapjaws in Captain N: The Game Master

  • A manga scene featuring Snapjaws, from Super Mario Encyclopedia: Complete Edition

    A manga scene featuring Snapjaws, from Super Mario Encyclopedia: Complete Edition

  • Artwork from Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten

    Artwork from Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten

  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong

    Mario vs. Donkey Kong

  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong

    Mario vs. Donkey Kong

  • Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)

    Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)

Additional names[edit]

Internal names[edit]

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 languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スナップジョー[3] / スナップジョウ[2]
Sunappujō 		Snapjaw
かみつきワニ[4]
Kamitsuki Wani 		Snapping Crocodile
Chinese (simplified) 猛游食人鱼[13]
Měngyóu Shírényú 		Literally "Fiercely Swimming Piranha"
French Mâchoire[5][6] Jawbone
Mâchoire d'Acier[5] Steel Jawbone
German Beißer[5] Biter
Krokodil[7] Crocodile
Italian Mandibola Mangiagorilla[8] Gorilla-eater Jaw
Mordimordi[5] Bitebite
Tagliola[9][10] Beartrap
Minicoccodrillo[11][12] Minicrocodile
Spanish Mandibula[5] Mandible

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1985. Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) instruction booklet. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 5.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Japanese arcade instruction card, Famicom manual, and FDS manual for Donkey Kong Jr.
  4. ^ Mario vs. Donkey Kong Shogakukan book[page number needed]
  5. ^ a b c d e Donkey Kong Junior Atari computer version manual (International)[page number needed]
  6. ^ French ColecoVision manual[page number needed]
  7. ^ German ColecoVision manual
  8. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (NES), back of the Italian box
  9. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. Italian booklet[page number needed]
  10. ^ Donkey Kong II Italian booklet[page number needed]
  11. ^ Donkey Kong Jr. (3DS - Virtual Console) Italian e-manual. Nintendo (Italian). Page 8.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 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
Rounds Vine Scene • Jump Board Scene • Mario's Hideout • Chain Scene
Other Gallery • Media • 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 • Door • 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 • Media • Staff
[Edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA) / Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch)
Characters Donkey Kong • Mario • Mini-Mario • Toadb
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 worlds: Expert

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 • 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 • Checkpoint Flagb • Conveyor Belt • Direction Switch • Donut Block • Door • Elevator • Flower Fanb • Flying keyb • Garbage Can • Girder • Hammer • Help Box • Key • Ladder • Letter Block • Present • Sand block • Spring • Rope • Color Switch • Toy box • Warp Boxb • Wire
Other Mini-Mario Factory Game! • Gallery (GBA · Switch) • 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
Main characters Mario • Donkey Kong • Pauline
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 • 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 • 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 Media • Staff • Super Mini Mario World
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