Teardrop Explodes: killer! (8)
I believe the answer is:
predator
'killer' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'teardrop explodes' is the wordplay.
'explodes' indicates anagramming the letters.
'teardrop' with letters rearranged gives 'PREDATOR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for predator that I've seen before include "Animal that eats other animals" , "eagle, for one" , "Animal preying on others" , "One preying on others" , "Hunter" .)