The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ZEBRA
Z
E
B
R
A
More clues leading to the result ZEBRA
- Much enthusiasm about brother finding wild horse
- Head of zoo takes age caging black animal
- Newborn regularly found in South Africa?
- Wild bear chases unknown animal
- Unknown period needed to capture black animal
- Split, Zagreb but not great 9 thing
- Crossing place for African animal?
- Zaire drops broadcast support for animal
- What’s repeatedly found in grizzly bear, possibly, or other wild animal
- German talks underwear, the animal!
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "animal" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case animal = zebra.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 ZEBRA mean?
ZEBRA noun- Any of three species of genus Equus: E. grevyi, E. quagga, or E. zebra, all with black and white stripes and native to Africa.
- A referee.
- An unlikely diagnosis, especially for symptoms probably caused by a common ailment. (Originates in the advice often given to medical students: "when you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras".)
- A biracial person, specifically one born to a member of the Sub-Saharan African race and a Caucasian.
- A fish, the zebra cichlid.
- Any of various papilionid butterflies of the subgenus Paranticopsis of the genus Graphium, having black and white markings.