Crossword Genius

Slithery creature alarms dean horribly (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

salamander

'slithery creature' is the definition.
(salamanders slither around)

'alarms dean horribly' is the wordplay.
'horribly' indicates an anagram (a horribly wrong version of the letters).
'alarms'+'dean'='alarmsdean'
'alarmsdean' anagrammed gives 'SALAMANDER'.

(Other definitions for salamander that I've seen before include "portable stove" , "Mythical fire lizard" , "amphibious creature" , "Tailed amphibian" , "poker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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