Some got terrible bites from animal (5)
I believe the answer is:
otter
'animal' is the definition.
(I know that otter is a type of animal)
'some got terrible bites' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'OTTER' can be found hidden inside 'got terrible bites'.
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for otter that I've seen before include "Aquatic weasel-like mammal" , "Aquatic beast" , "Mammal, 'Tarka'" , "Tarka, for one" , "Aquatic carnivore" .)