The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word REPTILIANS
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The straight part
We know that "snakes" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case snakes = reptilians.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REPTILIANS mean?
REPTILIANS noun- A reptilian animal: a reptile.
- A reptilian person, especially (racial slur) a Jew.
- A reptilian alien, especially (often capitalized) of a shapeshifting race purported to secretly control the world.