Crossword Genius

Information about tip-top little creatures? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

newts

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'little creatures?' is the definition.
'newts' can be an answer for 'creatures?' (newt is a kind of creature). I'm unsure of the 'little' bit.

'information about tip-top' is the wordplay.
'information' becomes 'news' (news is a kind of information**).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'tip-top' becomes 't' (top of the word 'tip-').
'news' going around 't' is 'NEWTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for newts that I've seen before include "Small amphibians, efts" , "Kind of water lizards or efts" , "creatures" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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