Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

This is the smallest race of North American deer. Adults measure 25 to 30 inches at the shoulder and have an average weight of 55 to 75 pounds for males and 45-65 pounds for females. The body is stockier, legs shorter, and skull wider than other races of white-tailed deer. The coat varies from a deep reddish brown to a grizzled, gray color. Bucks usually have antlers by their second year, and eight points by the fifth. The Key deer's primary food source is the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), but approximately 6O other plants are also known to form part of its diet. Possibly most of the available plant species are used at one time or another. The selection of some food plants changes seasonally, probably reflecting availability and nutritional needs. Other plants are browsed almost continuously resulting in their stunting and near extirpation.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967

  • States/US Territories in which the Key deer is known to occur:  Florida
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Key deer is known to occur:  NATIONAL KEY DEER REFUGE

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
03/11/1967 32 FR 4001 Endangered Species List - 1967

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/18/1999 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Key deer.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Big Pine Key Deer

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Key deer.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009