Nocturnal creature, European, eaten by man (5)
I believe the answer is:
genet
This could be a double definition.
'nocturnal creature' is the first definition.
(genets are nocturnal mammals)
'european eaten by man' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for genet that I've seen before include "who wrote in French?" , "Catlike mammal; Jean --, French author" , "Nocturnal mammal" , "furry beast" , "French playwright" .)