Crossword Genius

Adult’s run out to scoop up wild poorly animal (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

armadillo

'animal' is the definition.
(armadillo is a kind of animal)

'adult's run out to scoop up wild poorly' is the wordplay.
'adult' becomes 'a'.
'run out' becomes 'ro' (cricket abbreviation).
'to scoop up' is an insertion indicator.
'wild' becomes 'mad' ('mad' can be similar in meaning to 'wild'**).
'poorly' becomes 'ill' ('ill' can be a synonym of 'poorly').
'mad'+'ill'='madill'
'ro' going around 'madill' is 'rmadillo'.
'a'+'rmadillo'='ARMADILLO'

(Other definitions for armadillo that I've seen before include "bony individual?" , "mammal that has claws" , "Nocturnal creature" , "American insect-eater" , "Bony-plated mammal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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