Crossword Genius

Snake of a short species (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

asp

'snake' is the definition.
(asp is a kind of snake)

'a short species' is the wordplay.
'short species' becomes 'sp' (I've seen this in other clues; 'short' asks for a short form).
'a'+'sp'='ASP'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for asp that I've seen before include "A glider's what's called for" , "Cleopatra-killing snake" , "Reptile" , "One secreting poison" , "Cold-blooded killer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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