Crossword Genius

Large creature Pat and Helen shot (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

elephant

'large creature' is the definition.
(large animal)

'pat and helen shot' is the wordplay.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'shot' is an anagram indicator.
'pat'+'helen'='pathelen'
'pathelen' with letters rearranged gives 'ELEPHANT'.

(Other definitions for elephant that I've seen before include "Animal with a trunk" , "Endangered Species" , "Then leap (anag.)" , "Trunked mammal" , "Trumpeter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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