Bearer of saffron shaking off American reptile (4)

I believe the answer is:

croc

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'reptile' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for croc that I've seen before include "African beast; sounds like piece of pot" , "Reptile (abbrev.)" , "Pot tailless" , "Predatory reptile (abbr)" , "Small reptile" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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