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

See Examples For:

Key deer

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

But Clark said the Key deer population's growth rate, about 3 percent a year, has given it a cushion that could help it weather the storm.

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

In all, about 15 percent of the existing endangered Key deer herd — 132 animals — have died since July.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2016

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 Robert E. Gilbert