Which specific family level grouping defines the Chinese water deer lineage?
Answer
Cervidae
The Chinese water deer belongs to the Family Cervidae, which is defined as the true deer family. While it possesses highly unusual traits compared to many of its relatives, such as the absence of antlers, its fundamental genetic and morphological structure places it firmly within this classification. This family grouping signifies that it shares a common ancestry with species like elk and red deer, despite its specialized features, contrasting with animals from other families such as pigs or musk deer.
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