Crossword Genius

Reptile unsettled a girl a lot (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alligator

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

'unsettled a girl a lot' is the wordplay.
'unsettled' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'girl'+'a'+'lot'='agirlalot'
'agirlalot' with letters rearranged gives 'ALLIGATOR'.

(Other definitions for alligator that I've seen before include "Reptile like a crocodile" , "What can go with pear" , "River creature" , "It could be in zoo" , "Predatory cold-blooded killer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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