C.I.T.E.S. is a group of laws and regulations concerning endangered species of animals. It was enforsed in 1975 and now consists of three parts: Appendix I, Appendix II and Appendix III.
The considered to be endangered animals are devided into two groups: threatened ( at risk of becoming endangered ) and endangered( currently at the direct risk of extinction ).
The first group is
partially protected by laws ( Appendix II ), and
the second group ( Appendix I ), included on the so called " Red List " , under a full protection of international laws.

The aim of the C.I.T.E.S. is let to restore populations of disappearing animal species, and by that preventing them from a total extinction.

Currently, one member of the Chelydridae Family, Macroclemys temmincki, is considered endangered and included on the list of protected animals.
Thanks to extensive commercial breeding on farms, the numbers of alligator snappers have increased drastically in recent years.It used to be not on the endangered species list, but according to the latest listings it is currently on the Red List.
There has never been a need to protect the common snapping turtle.

More reading about the C.I.T.E.S. can be done at the C.I.T.E.S. homepage,
and the list of all the currently under international protection animals can be found at National and International Endangered and Threatened Species List.