Much to enjoy in this offering from Orense. Nothing too challenging, so a fairly quick solve, but a fun one, too. Yes, there’s a theme, which as regular readers (Sid and Doris Bonkers) will know usually sends me running for the high hills, but the theme in this case is broad enough to add a little colour without overwhelming the puzzle.
The theme, of course, is identified at 6ac: the puzzle abounds with things that crawl, creep, swim and fly.
ACROSS
1. TIGER MOTH Anagram of got hermit
6. FAUNA U [universal] within fan [supporter] + a [answer]
9. OUNCE (P)ounce [spring]; an ounce is also a species of big cat (much beloved of crossword setters)
10. TORTOISES O [zero, nothing] within anagram of store its
11. TERRORISES I’s [one’s] + e [energy] within terrors [little brats]
12. STAG Stag(e) [theatre]
14. CATFISH Cat [pet] + fish [shark]
15. SARDINE Sar(k) [Channel Island] + dine [eat]
17. BUSTARD Bust [bankrupt] + a + rd [road, way]
19. INSECTS In [popular] + sects [religious cults]
20. IBEX I [one] + b(ri)e + X [ten]
22. VAMPIRE BAT Cryptic definition
25. LACEWINGS L [line] + ace [expert] + wings [extensions (to a building)]
26. BITER (Ar)biter [judge]
27. TUNNY Tun [barrel] + n(earl)y
28. TREE SHREW Anagram of rest here + wailing minus ailing [suffering]
DOWN
1. TROUT T(rade)r + out [dismissed]
2. GENERATES Anagram of teenagers
3. RHETORICAL Anagram of a lot richer
4. OSTRICH Double definition
5. HORNETS H [hotel] + or [gold] + nets [curtains]
6. FROG R [runs] within fog [obscure]
7. UPSET Hidden (without proper indication) in reversal of vacaTES PUb
8. ASSIGNEES A [Adult] + sign [notice] within sees [realises]
13. PROSCRIBES Pro [for] + scribes [writers]
14. CABRIOLET CA [Chartered Accountant] + brio [spirit] + let [leased]
16. INCUBATOR In [popular] + Cuba [island] + reversal of rot [rubbish]
18. DRAGNET Anagram of granted
19. IMPASSE IM [reversal of M1, motorway] + passe(d) [overtook]
21. EX-CON Double definition
23. THROW Double definition
24. SWAY W [wife] within say [for example]
Thanks Orense and Ringo. I had a minor difference on the parsing of 9ac: (B)ounce, although pounce aligns better with what a big cat would do to its prey!
Thanks for the blog, Ringo. I enjoyed today’s puzzle too.
TUNNY is clued by ‘Fish’ in 27ac, but FISH is clued by ‘shark’ in 14ac.
I presume ‘or other creature’ is doing double duty in the second clue
for something like ‘shark, perhaps’?