Marsupial as well as one canine housed in compartment (9)
I believe the answer is:
bandicoot
'marsupial' is the definition.
(I know that bandicoot is a type of marsupial)
'as well as one canine housed in compartment' is the wordplay.
'as well as' becomes 'and' (I've seen this in other clues).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'canine' becomes 'c' (dental abbreviation).
'housed in' indicates putting letters inside.
'compartment' becomes 'boot' (boot is a kind of compartment).
'and'+'i'+'c'='andic'
'andic' put into 'boot' is 'BANDICOOT'.
(Other definitions for bandicoot that I've seen before include "Insect-eating marsupial of Australia and New Guinea" , "native of Australia" , "rat is seen" , "Australian native" , "Aussie native" .)