Crossword Genius

Thick-skinned type taking fruit by Italian river (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hippo

'thick-skinned type' is the definition.
(thick-skinned animal)

'fruit by italian river' is the wordplay.
'fruit' becomes 'hip' (the fruit of a rose plant).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'italian river' becomes 'po' (river in Italy).
'hip'+'po'='HIPPO'

'taking' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for hippo that I've seen before include "Large African beast (abbr)" , "22 aquatic animal" , "Massive thick-skinned animal of African rivers" , "Tropical African mud wallower" , "African wallower (abbr)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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