A reptile is a strange present (7)

I believe the answer is:

serpent

'a reptile' is the definition.
(I know that serpent is a type of diapsid)

'strange present' is the wordplay.
'strange' indicates an anagram.
'present' is an anagram of 'SERPENT'.

'is a' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for serpent that I've seen before include "Tempting" , "Instrument of the past" , "Venomous snake" , "Eve's tempter" , "Present (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app