In the country I am an unknown animal (4)
I believe the answer is:
ibex
'animal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in the country i am an unknown' is the wordplay.
'in the country i am' becomes 'I be' ('I be' is a regional dialect form of 'I am').
'an unknown' becomes 'x' (algebra).
'ibe'+'x'='IBEX'
(Other definitions for ibex that I've seen before include "Large-horned mountain goat" , "one seldom puts a foot wrong" , "Sure-footed type" , "being nimble-footed" , "Wild goat with double curved horns" .)