Something on a plate: it reflects to show wild animal (5)
I believe the answer is:
tiger
'wild animal' is the definition.
'something on a plate it reflects' is the wordplay.
'something on a plate' becomes 'reg' (as in a reg plate - a vehicle's registration plate).
'reflects' is a reversal indicator.
'reg'+'it'='regit'
'regit' in reverse letter order is 'TIGER'.
'to show' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tiger that I've seen before include "Ferocious person" , "Shere Khan's type" , "___ Woods, golfer" , "Striped animal poetically burning bright" , "Fierce feline" .)