KEY LARGO WOODRAT Neotoma floridana smalli 



Order: RODENTIA Family: CRICETIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : Coloration is gray-brown on the back and head with the 

 belly and throat white. The ears are large and bare and the tail is covered with short 

 bristle-like fur. Sherman (1955) reported that the skull morphology differed slightly from 

 that of the nearest eastern woodrats in central and northern Florida. 



Present distribution : Found only in "climax hammock" vegetation restricted to the 

 northern portion of the island of Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida. 



Former distribution : At one time occupied the entire length of the island of Key Largo, 

 Florida, which is 35 miles long and only one-half to two miles wide (Schwartz, 1952) . 

 No woodrats other than this relict population occur in all of southern Florida. 



Status : Seriously depleted. Only a few hundred acres of suitable climax vegetation remain 

 on North Key Largo . Trapping has revealed that the woodrats do not occur in any of the 

 early to mid-successional stages of subtropical hammock. The only populations which 

 remain in existence, occur on the northern end of the island (see attached map of Key Largo) . 



Estimated numbers : Not possible to say precisely, but one study plot in prime habitat 

 averaged one woodrat per each two acres . The amount of climax subtropical forest 

 remaining in North Key Largo is decreasing rapidly due to bulldozing and would not 

 presently exceed 1,500 acres. Thus, the total population of this woodrat is presently 

 estimated to be between 700 and 800 individuals . 



Breeding rate in the wild : Two litters per year averaging two young each are produced 

 by mature females . The chief sources of mortality in the young as well as adults appear 

 to be rattlesnakes , raccoons , and owls . 



Reasons for decline : Habitat destruction by man on an island where the amount of climax 

 vegetation is not extensive anyway. Repeated fires and bulldozing for commercial develop- 

 ment have eliminated this woodrat entirely from the southern two-thirds of Key Largo . A 

 decline in the total population has also been recorded during four years (1968-72) of study 

 on North Key Largo. 



Measures proposed : Pf-eservation in public ownership of some of the remaining climax 

 subtropical forest restricted to North Key Largo . If this is not accomplished this species 

 could probably be successfully introduced to suitable "protected" islands nearby having 

 climax subtropical forest. The islands of Biscayne Bay National Monument located just 

 north of Key Largo appear to be suitable for this possibility. 



Number in captivity : None presently. From 1968 to 1970, a breeding colony was main- 

 tained at the University of South Florida, Tampa. 



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