Crossword Genius

Rat swallows a river insect (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scarab

'insect' is the definition.
(I know that Scarab is a type of insect)

'rat swallows a river' is the wordplay.
'rat' becomes 'scab' (synonyms).
'swallows' indicates putting letters inside.
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
'a'+'r'='ar'
'scab' enclosing 'ar' is 'SCARAB'.

(Other definitions for scarab that I've seen before include "Sacred Egyptian beetle" , "Holy beetle" , "Egyptian stone" , "crawler" , "Sacred dung-beetle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
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