Key deer

American  

noun

1. a subspecies of miniature white-tailed deer, native to the Florida Keys, where the small remaining population is kept in preserves.

---

Etymology

Origin of Key deer

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Those include Key deer of southern Florida, desert flowers in Nevada and California and the St. Croix ground lizard in the Virgin Islands.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2023

Fish & Wildlife Refuge that provides vital habitat for endangered Key deer.

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2018

"People can't help but fall in love with the Key deer," said Dan Clark, who manages the 8,500-acre National Key Deer Refuge and three other wildlife refuges in the keys.

From Washington Post • Sep. 13, 2017

Florida snowbirds and other island regulars posted queries online: How were the federally protected Key deer faring?

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2017

The dodo, quagga, passenger pigeon, great auk, aurochs, Key deer, bison, African elephant, gorilla, tiger—there's an awful list.

From Thy Rocks and Rills by Gilbert, Robert E.