DK Travel : Miami : The Keys : Plants and Animals in the Keys

Top 10 Plants and Animals in the Keys

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1. Key Deer

The diminutive Key deer (max. 32 in/81 cm tall) are found primarily on Big Pine and No Name keys. Docile and endearing, these tiny animals have returned from the brink of extinction in the last 40 years.
2. Coral

Although it appears to be insensate rock, coral is actually a living organism, and a very fragile one at that, easily damaged by the slightest touch.
3. Gumbo Limbo Tree

This unmistakable tree is found all over the Keys – called the “tourist tree” because its bark is red and peeling.
4. Palms

Although only a few species are natives – the royal palm, the sabal palm, the saw palmetto, and the thatch palm – a huge range of imported palms now adorn the islands.
5. Sea Turtles

These goodnatured, long-lived creatures come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. From the largest to the smallest they are the leatherback, the loggerhead, the green, the hawksbill, and the Ridley turtles.
6. Herons

These elegant birds include the great blue heron (white phase, too), the little blue heron, the tri-colored heron, the greenbacked heron, and the blackcrowned night heron.
7. Egrets

Similar to herons are the great egret, the snowy egret (distinguishable by its black legs and yellow feet), and the reddish egret.
8. White Ibis

Recognizable for its long, down-curving beak, this mediumsized white bird was sacred to the Egyptians.
9. Double-Crested Cormorant

Notable for its S-curved neck, distinctive beak, and spectacular diving skills, this is one of the most fascinating of Keys birds.
10. Other Endangered Species

These include the American crocodile, the Key Largo wood rat and cotton mouse, Schaus swallowtail butterfly, and roseate spoonbill, all of which have either been hunted to near extinction or lost their habitats due to human encroachment.