The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ALLIGATOR
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
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More clues leading to the result ALLIGATOR
- You can see one in zoo barking at gorilla
- Angry gorilla ate short reptile
- Gorilla at bananas? It could be in zoo
- What can go with pear one bites voraciously?
- A wild gorilla eats head of tiny reptile
- Sort of hide everybody on vacation in Genoa during violent riot
- Hide supplier at rebuilt gorilla cages
- Reptileās run under a log, tail twisting
- Nameless troll again upset Daisy?
- Reptile having problem climbing into a good area on hill
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "You can see one in zoo" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case you can see one in zoo = alligator.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 ALLIGATOR mean?
ALLIGATOR noun- Either of two species of large amphibious reptile, Alligator mississippiensis or Alligator sinensis, in the genus Alligator within order Crocodilia, which have sharp teeth and very strong jaws and are native to the Americas and China, respectively.
- Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
- Any of various machines with strong jaws, one of which opens like the movable jaw of an alligator.
- Any of various vehicles that have relatively long, low noses in front of a cab or other, usually windowed, structure.
- (of paint or other coatings) To crack in a pattern resembling an alligator's skin.
- Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which each iteration is sequentially numbered and supposed to be approximately one second in length.
- One who binds or ties.