Quadruped of a novel kind (3)

I believe the answer is:

elk

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'quadruped' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'of a novel kind' is the wordplay.
'of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ELK' is hidden within 'novel kind'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for elk that I've seen before include "American animal" , "Type of moose" , "Large deer of N Europe and Asia" , "Wapiti" , "Large ruminant" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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