Alternative Text Description for Miami Blue Butterfly (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the critical habitat and range boundaries for the Miami Blue Butterfly, an endangered species, in southern Florida. The map shows polygonal boundaries representing areas where this species is understood to occur, as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The distribution is highly localized to specific coastal and island areas in the southernmost region of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers southern Florida, extending from Cape Coral and Immokalee in the north to the Straits of Florida in the south. Major labeled cities include Cape Coral, Naples, Immokalee, Miami, Coral Springs, Boca, Hollywood, Homestead, and Key West. The mapped area encompasses the southwestern Florida coast, the tip of the Florida peninsula near Homestead, and the island chain of the Florida Keys extending southwest into the Straits of Florida. The Gulf of America is visible to the west and northwest of the mapped features.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Miami Blue Butterfly habitat is extremely limited in extent and highly concentrated in two distinct areas. The primary concentration occurs in the southern tip of mainland Florida near Homestead and the uppermost Florida Keys, forming a dense cluster of small polygons. A secondary concentration appears as scattered small polygons throughout the lower and middle Florida Keys, particularly near Key West. The species' range is entirely coastal and island-based, with no inland presence. This highly fragmented and restricted distribution pattern reflects the endangered status of the species.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Miami Blue Butterfly (Endangered) Habitat

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries delineating the geographic range and habitat areas for the Miami Blue Butterfly as recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Miami Blue Butterfly Habitat Areas (pink polygons with crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat areas are represented by pink polygons filled with a diagonal crosshatch or grid pattern, making them highly visible against the neutral gray base map.

Distribution:

The polygons are distributed exclusively in southern Florida's coastal and island environments, with no presence in inland or northern portions of the mapped area.

Notable locations:

The most significant concentration is located near Homestead at the southern tip of the Florida mainland and in the adjacent upper Keys. Additional scattered occurrences appear throughout the Florida Keys island chain, with notable presence near Key West in the lower Keys.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat exhibits a fragmented, archipelagic pattern with two main clusters separated by water. The northern cluster near Homestead shows densely packed small polygons, while the Keys populations are more dispersed along the island chain. The linear arrangement follows the natural geography of the Keys, extending in a southwest arc from the mainland. All habitat areas are closely associated with coastal environments and island geography.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a filtered subset of the complete Florida species dataset, showing only the Miami Blue Butterfly distribution. The highly restricted range visible on this map illustrates the precarious conservation status of this endangered species. The habitat boundaries represent the species' range as understood by federal wildlife authorities and may be used for conservation planning, habitat protection, and species recovery efforts. Base map features such as roads and political boundaries are not emphasized, focusing attention on the thematic layer of butterfly habitat.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents the agency's official understanding of Miami Blue Butterfly species boundaries for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries delineating habitat areas.

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the broader dataset CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26. The filtering criterion applied is COMNAME = 'MIAMI BLUE BUTTERFLY', showing only records where the common name field matches this specific endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map scale shows the entire southern Florida region from Cape Coral to the Straits of Florida, providing a regional view appropriate for understanding the full extent of the species' limited range. This scale allows visualization of both the overall distribution pattern and the general locations of individual habitat polygons.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Limitations:

The boundaries represent the species range as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and reflect the agency's best available knowledge. Actual butterfly presence may vary within these boundaries based on habitat quality, seasonal factors, and population dynamics. The polygonal boundaries may not reflect fine-scale habitat variations or recent population changes.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from approximately Cape Coral and Immokalee in the north to the Straits of Florida in the south, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic coast near Miami in the east. The exact geographic extent encompasses all of the Florida Keys and the southernmost portion of peninsular Florida, providing regional context beyond the immediate butterfly habitat areas.

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