Crossword Genius

Benefit capturing the heart of Monty Python? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

snake

'python?' is the definition.
(python is a kind of snake)

'benefit capturing the heart of monty' is the wordplay.
'benefit' becomes 'sake' (sake is a kind of benefit).
'capturing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the heart of' says to take the centre.
The middle letter of 'monty' is 'n'.
'sake' placed around 'n' is 'SNAKE'.

(Other definitions for snake that I've seen before include "Move sinuously" , "Part of plant or hair" , "For instance, adder" , "Wind" , "Slithering reptile" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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