Crossword Genius

Creature seen in Japan? Thereabouts (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

panther

'creature' is the definition.
(I know that panther is a type of wildcat)

'in japan? thereabouts' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'PANTHER' is hidden within 'japan thereabouts'.

'seen' is the link.

(Other definitions for panther that I've seen before include "Then rap the large black cat" , "See 2" , "Black leopard" , "Big cat" , "big pussycat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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