Giant ear can flap in the winds (7,8)

I believe the answer is:

african elephant

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'giant' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'ear can flap in the winds' is the wordplay.
'winds' indicates an anagram (the letters wind around).
'ear'+'can'+'flap'+'in'+'the'='earcanflapinthe'
'earcanflapinthe' anagrammed gives 'AFRICAN ELEPHANT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for african elephant that I've seen is " Animal".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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