Plated mammal (9)
I believe the answer is:
armadillo
'plated mammal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for armadillo that I've seen before include "mammal that has claws" , "Mammal covered with bony plates" , "Animal covered with long plates" , "animal on the loose!" , "Insect-eating mammal" .)