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In a kind of rhythmic fashion, an animal climbing upon another of its kind — very absorbing! (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

staccato

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'in' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for staccato that I've seen before include "With every note detached in cats's coat" , "Disjointed, not smooth and flowing" , "Musically sharp and disconnected as in toccatas" , "With notes sharply separated (music)" , "In music, in a sharp disconnected manner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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