Crossword Genius

Seaman on his tod finds snail (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abalone

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'snail' 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?

'seaman on his tod' is the wordplay.
'seaman' becomes 'ab' (short for able seaman).
'on his tod' becomes 'alone' (to be on one's tod is to be alone).
'ab'+'alone'='ABALONE'

'finds' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abalone that I've seen before include "Source of mother-of-pearl" , "Edible marine mollusc -- Oban ale (anag)" , "something to eat from the sea" , "Edible shellfish, sea-ear" , "paua" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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