The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PLATYPUS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
L
A
T
Y
P
U
S
More clues leading to the result PLATYPUS
- Aquatic creature — supply at sea: about a ton
- Odd creature with tail also includes a tailless variety
- Changing supply lines cheers up one with a large bill
- Animal is a sort without tail given extra protection
- Mammal, a tailless sort – positive about that?
- Flat-tailed animal also embodies a tailless sort
- Creature‘s an example mostly inhabiting beneficial surroundings
- Unusual Australian puts play on
- Aquatic creature apt to play around yard in addition to going outside
- Creature, aptly evolved before Manx cat
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Unusual Australian" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case unusual australian = platypus.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 PLATYPUS mean?
PLATYPUS noun- A semi-aquatic, egg-laying monotreme mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet — males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; Ornithorhynchus anatinus