Mammal · GBIF taxon 6165151
Odocoileus virginianus clavium
Odocoileus virginianus claviumAlso known as Florida Key Deer
Key deer swim fluidly between islands across open saltwater to forage on mangrove foliage, palm berries, and freshwater vegetation. Remarkably compact, adults stand barely waist-high to a human, having evolved reduced body mass as an adaptation to limited island resources. Extreme tameness and curiosity make them particularly vulnerable to vehicle strikes along lower Florida Key highways.
Island EndemicMammal
Licensed reference(c) Tuoichen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tuoichen · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Red Mangrove foliage
- Silver Palm berries
- Blodgett's Wild Mercury
Predators
- American Alligator
- Domestic Dog
ThreatsVehicle collisions, habitat destruction, sea level rise, human feeding, and disease
HabitatsPine rocklands, hardwood hammocks, and mangrove swamps of the Florida Keys
Life span8–10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCervidae
- SpeciesOdocoileus virginianus clavium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- May carry ticks and can kick if cornered; observe quietly from a distance.
- What to notice
- Distinctive tiny deer standing under waist-high, restricted strictly to the lower Florida Keys.
- Support conservation
- Drive slowly on key roads, never offer food or water, and keep domestic pets strictly leashed.
Responsible observation
- Drive Slowly: Obey strict posted speed limits through Big Pine Key to prevent deer strikes.
- Never Feed: Feeding habituates deer to roadways and causes severe digestive illnesses.
- Keep Dogs Leashed: Uncontrolled pets stress fragile local populations and can cause fatal chases.
Parent Species USDA photo by Scott Bauer / Public domain · cc0
Habitat Companion no rights reserved, uploaded by mike_cove · cc0
Close Relative "ten point mule deer buck" by woodleywonderworks is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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