Alternative Text Description for Florida Panther (Endangered) Habitat Range

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the designated habitat range for the Florida Panther, an endangered species, as recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map shows a single thematic layer representing the geographic area where this species is understood to occur within the State of Florida. The visualization focuses on the spatial extent of the panther's range across the southern portion of the Florida peninsula.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, with primary focus on the state of Florida and portions of neighboring states including Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The Florida Panther habitat range is concentrated entirely within Florida, specifically in the southern and central portions of the peninsula. Major cities visible on the map include Jacksonville in northeastern Florida, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west-central coast, West Palm Beach and Fort St. Lucie on the east-central coast, Cape Coral and Coral Springs in southern Florida, and Gainesville in north-central Florida. The coastal regions of both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of America to the west are visible. Additional cities shown outside Florida include Savannah, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Augusta, and Athens in neighboring states to the north.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Florida Panther range is concentrated in a continuous band covering much of southern and central Florida. The habitat extends from the Jacksonville and Palm Coast area in the northeast, running southward through the Orlando region, and broadening significantly across the Tampa Bay area and southward through the southwestern portion of the peninsula. The most extensive coverage appears in southwestern and south-central Florida, encompassing areas around Cape Coral, Fort Myers (implied by proximity to Cape Coral), and extending toward the southern tip of the peninsula near Coral Springs. The range shows a clear north-to-south distribution pattern along Florida's peninsula, with the widest extent occurring in the lower third of the state. The habitat does not extend into northern Florida beyond the Jacksonville area, nor does it appear in the Florida Panhandle region. The eastern coastal areas show more limited coverage compared to the interior and western portions of the state.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Florida Panther Habitat Range

This layer represents the officially designated habitat range for the endangered Florida Panther as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Florida Panther (Endangered) Habitat Area

Appearance:

The habitat area is depicted with a pink diagonal crosshatch pattern overlaying the geographic area. The pattern consists of fine diagonal lines creating a mesh or grid texture that distinguishes the habitat zone from surrounding areas.

Distribution:

The habitat range covers a substantial portion of southern and central Florida, beginning near Jacksonville and Palm Coast in the northeast and extending southward through central Florida. The distribution widens considerably in the Tampa Bay region and continues broadly across southwestern and south-central Florida.

Notable locations:

Major population centers within or adjacent to the habitat range include Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, West Palm Beach, Cape Coral, and Coral Springs. The habitat encompasses significant portions of Florida's interior peninsula as well as areas along the Gulf of America coast in southwestern Florida.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat forms a relatively continuous zone following the north-south axis of the Florida peninsula. The pattern shows narrower coverage in the northeastern portion near Jacksonville and Palm Coast, expanding to much broader coverage through central Florida around Orlando, and reaching maximum width in the southwestern portion of the state. The habitat boundary follows an irregular but generally cohesive shape, suggesting natural landscape features and ecological considerations influence the range limits.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are visible in this single-layer thematic map. The habitat range is represented as a single, unified area without additional categorical subdivisions or overlapping features.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the official understanding of Florida Panther habitat range by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The range shown reflects the species' endangered status and the geographic area where conservation and management efforts are focused. The map displays only the habitat range boundary and does not indicate population density, individual panther locations, or habitat quality within the designated area. Users should understand that this represents the recognized range extent rather than confirmed sightings or uniform occupancy throughout the entire area. The map is filtered to show only the Florida Panther from a broader dataset of species ranges maintained by the agency.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data is sourced from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents the agency's official understanding of species habitat ranges for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries defining where species are understood to occur. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the source data showing only records where the common name equals 'FLORIDA PANTHER'. The broader dataset contains habitat ranges for multiple species, but this view isolates the Florida Panther specifically.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale showing the entire Florida peninsula and portions of neighboring southeastern states. This scale is appropriate for understanding the overall geographic extent of the species' range and its position relative to major cities and geographic features.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system optimized for displaying Florida statewide data with minimal distortion.

Time Period of Content:

The dataset identifier includes "JUL25," suggesting the data represents information current as of July 2025 or was published in July 2025.

Limitations:

The map represents the understood habitat range as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not reflect the most current field observations or recent changes in species distribution. The boundaries represent general range limits rather than precise occupancy data. The dataset provides a regulatory and conservation planning perspective on species habitat rather than real-time population monitoring. Users should consult the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the most current information on Florida Panther status and distribution.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the southeastern United States from northern Florida through portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, extending from the Atlantic coast westward to eastern Alabama. The primary focus is the Florida peninsula, with surrounding states shown for geographic context. The thematic layer (Florida Panther habitat range) appears only within Florida's borders.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.