Creature has time to pair off (5)
I believe the answer is:
tapir
'creature' is the definition.
(type of mammal)
'time to pair off' is the wordplay.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'to' says to put letters next to each other.
'off' is an anagram indicator.
'pair' with letters rearranged gives 'apir'.
't'+'apir'='TAPIR'
'has' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tapir that I've seen before include "Ungulate" , "Hoofed mammal; I trap (anag.)" , "creature" , "I part with the pig-like animal" , "Nocturnal hoofed animal" .)