Going Concern by Hedge-sparrow

Puzzle explanation

The letters omitted from wordplay in clues formed creatures that have recently become extinct: BAIJI, QUAGGA, HUIA, AUROCHS. The unclued entries were creatures in danger of sharing the same fate: AXOLOTL, KATIPO, SAIGA, BONOBO, RHINO. The second and penultimate letters from extra words in clues spelt out “Where is the life we’ve lost in living?”, slightly modified from T. S. Eliot’s play The Rock.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer (unclued letters) Explanation
Across
1   KYP(H)OSIS KY + (POSIT with S for T)
5 t(W)itc(H)y PUSS 2 meanings
8   AMO(U)R ROMA <
11   EM(A)ILS (SLIM + (wedg)E) <
12 r(E)pertoi(R)e STRUM S + TRUMPET − PET
13 b(E)gon(I)a PAAN A in PAN
15 p(S)ychiatris(T)’s AREOLE EAR-HOLE * − H
16 r(H)ym(E)s TEAN A in TEN
18   C(A)NID CNIDA − A
19 p(L)a(I)n LIARD RAIL < + D
21   RAG(U) RAG
25 O(F)fic(E)r AFRICA CA after FAIR *
26   (R)ANI ANI
28   SE(C)RET TREES *
29 s(W)e(E)t UNSEATS NUTS * around SEA
30 o(V)(E)r EARD EAR + D(ug)
31   SEA A(S)TER ATE in SEAR
Down
2 A(L)coh(O)l POTMAN ((M)alt + ON TAP) *
3 E(S)ta(T)e ORPINE ((pu)RP(le) + I(ndigo)) in ONE
4   SO(B) SO
5   PL(A)TE(AU) PELT *
6   ST (J)ULIEN UTENSIL *
7   SL(I)MED M in SLED
9 m(I)sjudgi(N)g ASANA AS + AN + A
10   (I)RON R + ON
14   AVIFA(U)NA (VI + FAN + A) after A(wning)
16   TRIG(G)ED GIRT < + ED
17   ARAB(A) ARAB
19   LAS(Q)UE (BLUE − B) around AS
20   ARI(A) RAI *
22 I(L)lic(I)t GENERA ENERG(y) * + A
23 e(V)(I)l CABRIT (C + BRIT) around A
24 u(N)dera(G)e VIATOR (a)VIATOR
27   (G)AS AS
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