Crossword Genius

Reptile taking a breather after climbing a rocky height (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alligator

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'reptile' is the definition.
(alligator is a kind of reptile)

'a breather after climbing a rocky height' is the wordplay.
'breather' becomes 'gill' (I've seen this in other clues).
'after' becomes 'a' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'climbing' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'a rocky height' becomes 'tor' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'gill'+'a'='agilla'
'agilla' written backwards gives 'alliga'.
'alliga'+'tor'='ALLIGATOR'

'taking' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alligator that I've seen before include "Reptile like a crocodile" , "Fierce reptile" , "Large carnivorous reptile" , "What can go with pear" , "Large semi-aquatic reptile" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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