In the grass, relative of the rat and the skunk? (5)

I believe the answer is:

snake

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'the skunk?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for snake that I've seen before include "Long slender reptile" , "Serpent" , "Entertainer with music and reptiles" , "Slithering reptile" , "Chinese zodiac animal" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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