Crossword Genius

Turned up tailing shy rodent (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coypu

'rodent' is the definition.
(coypu is a kind of rodent)

'turned up tailing shy' is the wordplay.
'turned' is a reversal indicator.
'tailing' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (to tail can mean to go after or follow).
'shy' becomes 'coy' (coy can mean shy or modest).
'up' back-to-front is 'pu'.
'pu' put after 'coy' is 'COYPU'.

(Other definitions for coypu that I've seen before include "Large South American aquatic rodent" , "Creature in fur coat" , "Large South American beaver-like rodent" , "S American rodent inadvertently introduced into Europe" , "Beaver-like creature" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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