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.

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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

Over the course of repeated trips, I’ve come to appreciate the nature and wildlife of the Keys, home to endangered Key deer, mangrove forests and the only living barrier reef off the continental United States.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2018

But not far behind would be the Key deer, a petite and endangered species that has existed on the narrow island chain, and nowhere else, since the end of the last ice age.

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.