Then dropped the squirming wet creature in the pond (4)

I believe the answer is:

newt

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'creature in the pond' is the definition.
'newt' can be an answer for 'creature' (newt is a kind of creature). I'm unsure of the 'in the pond' bit.

'then dropped the squirming wet' is the wordplay.
'dropped' suggests deleting specific letters.
'squirming' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'then' with 'the' taken away is 'n'.
'wet' is an anagram of 'ewt'.
'n'+'ewt'='NEWT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for newt that I've seen before include "Medical worker" , "Small tailed amphibian" , "Amphibious salamander" , "Went to find amphibian" , "Ask" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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