To which scientific family is the whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) classified?
Answer
Cervidae
The whitetail deer is scientifically categorized within the family Cervidae. This family encompasses all species commonly recognized as true deer, which are characterized by the presence of antlers in the males (with a few exceptions), which are shed and regrown annually. Membership in Cervidae distinguishes them from other large grazing or browsing mammals that might possess horns, such as those found in the Bovidae family (like cattle or goats), which grow permanent, unbranched horns composed of a bony core covered in keratin.
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