Crossword Genius

Recalled a lot of tricks in a menagerie? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

animals

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'menagerie?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'recalled a lot of tricks in a' is the wordplay.
'recalled' says the letters should be written backwards (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'a lot of tricks' becomes 'slam' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'slam'+'in'+'a'='slamina'
'slamina' back-to-front is 'ANIMALS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for animals that I've seen before include "Beasts, creatures" , "Wild beasts" , "Living organisms characterised by voluntary movement" , "Brutes" , "Living beings" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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