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24a yes
25d Your R is wrong - should be N ( imade that mistake too)
SYNDETIC

Going back to 31d yes the letters must be A and I but the jumble gives me either a fish (PAIDLE) or a star (PLEIAD) ???

ELAPID - any member of the elaps genus

Aaah! Not in Chambers - thanks

It's under ELAPS in mine Don (12th edition)

Right on! Wonder how many stumbled on 25D. Had me going in circles even though it's a simple anagram.

Re the redundant words - there seems to be a mismatch.
For unchecked As, there are 7 in the grid, & 6 in the extras.
For unchecked Es, there are 5 in the grid, & 6 in the extras.

I'm sure I have the correct ones.
It's not really relevant because the puzzle is easily solved without the check, but I hate loose ends.

tks all for earlier help, but now stuck on unclued one at 40a for which i've got F?I?L?NC?? any help tks

Your I is wrong. Should be E.

Your 'i' is wrong - I think you forgot to 'treat' 31 D and have just put in the ordinary version.
The critter at 41, before you do anything to it, is 3-2-5.

Hope this helps.

thats what i thought but clashes with elipad as suggested by sudokolover above