Alternative Text Description for Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range of the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, an endangered species, within the southeastern United States. The map shows the limited distribution of this species using polygonal boundaries as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the State of Florida. The primary purpose is to illustrate the restricted habitat area where this endangered species is found.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, extending from Georgia and South Carolina in the north to southern Florida in the south, and from the Atlantic coast westward through portions of Georgia and Florida. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach in Florida, as well as Charleston, Savannah, Columbia, Greenville, Athens, and Augusta in the Carolinas and Georgia. The map shows the Florida peninsula prominently, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The habitat area for the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit is located in the southernmost portion of Florida, in the region near the Florida Keys.

KEY INSIGHTS

The most significant spatial pattern revealed by this map is the extremely limited and isolated geographic range of the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit. The species' habitat is confined to a small area at the southern tip of Florida, specifically in the Lower Keys region near Key West and the surrounding islands. This highly restricted distribution underscores the species' endangered status and vulnerability. The habitat exists as isolated patches far removed from the mainland and other potential habitat areas, with no presence detected in any other part of Florida or the southeastern United States shown on the map.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit Habitat

This layer represents the documented range boundaries for the endangered Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit species as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Endangered Species Range (hatched pink/purple pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat areas are shown with a diagonal hatched pattern in pink or light purple coloring, creating a crosshatch effect that distinguishes these areas from the base map.

Distribution:

The habitat appears exclusively in the southernmost portion of the Florida Keys, near the western end of the island chain. No habitat areas are shown anywhere else on the map.

Notable locations:

The habitat is concentrated in the Lower Keys region, approximately in the area west of the Seven Mile Bridge and around Key West. The patches appear as small, discrete polygons representing individual islands or island clusters.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat exists as fragmented, isolated patches forming a small cluster in the extreme southern tip of Florida. The pattern reflects the naturally fragmented geography of the Florida Keys island chain. There is no connectivity to mainland habitats, and the total area covered is extremely limited compared to the overall map extent.

Overlapping Patterns

Not applicable. The species habitat layer stands alone without overlapping features shown on this thematic map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from a larger dataset showing endangered and threatened species in Florida. The map focuses specifically on the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit and its highly restricted range. The species name and endangered status are clearly indicated in the legend. The base map provides geographic context through city labels and state boundaries but is not the primary focus of this thematic layer. Users should note that the extremely small habitat area visible on this regional-scale map reflects the critically limited distribution of this endangered species. More detailed maps at larger scales would be necessary to see the specific islands and habitat boundaries within the Lower Keys area.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents polygonal boundaries for species as understood by USFWS for the State of Florida. The dataset is labeled CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25 and was compiled in July 2025.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals 'LOWER KEYS MARSH RABBIT', filtering the larger species dataset to show this single endangered species. The query COMNAME = 'LOWER KEYS MARSH RABBIT' was applied to extract this subset from the full USFWS species boundary dataset.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional-scale view covering multiple states in the southeastern United States. At this scale, the Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit habitat appears as very small polygons in the southernmost extent of Florida. This scale is appropriate for understanding the overall geographic context and the highly restricted range of the species, but detailed habitat boundaries within individual keys would require a much larger scale view.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The dataset is dated July 2025, representing the most current understanding of species boundaries as of that date.

Limitations:

The map shows species boundary polygons as defined by USFWS and may represent potential or historical habitat as well as current occupied range. The actual distribution of individuals within these boundaries may vary. The small size of the habitat areas at this map scale means that precise boundary details are not visible. Data gaps or methodological details regarding how these boundaries were determined are not provided on the map itself.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from approximately northern Georgia and South Carolina southward through the entire Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys, and westward from the Atlantic coast to include portions of the eastern Gulf of America coastline. The map provides context far beyond the species range to show the relative position of the habitat within the broader southeastern United States region.

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