White-Tailed Deer - Odocoileus virginianusThe white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Male deer grow and shed new antlers each year. Deer live in a variety of biomes, ranging from tundra to the tropical rainforest. Deer constitute the second most diverse family of artiodactyla after bovids. Deer are also excellent jumpers and swimmers. Deer are ruminants, or cud-chewers, and have a four-chambered stomach. White-tailed deer are browse for food at dawn and dusk. White-tailed deer have good eyesight and hearing. Only male deer grow antlers, which are shed each year. White-tail deer are good swimmers and will use large streams and lakes to escape predators.A young deer is called a fawn.
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