What specialized foot structure defines the Order Artiodactyla placement for the white-tail?
Answer
They are digitigrade, walking on the tips of the third and fourth toes.
The placement within the Order Artiodactyla signifies that the white-tailed deer possesses an even number of functional toes, defining them as even-toed ungulates. Specifically, the text describes them as being digitigrade, meaning their primary contact points with the ground are the tips of their third and fourth toes, which form what is commonly perceived as the hoof. This specialized structure is integral to how they move and bear weight while consuming fibrous forage.
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