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How many species belong to the deer family Cervidae?
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deer
Male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
The deer family, Cervidae, comprises 43 species of hoofed ruminants within the order Artiodactyla.12
These animals are characterized by having two large and two small hooves on each foot, and they are notable for possessing antlers in the males of most species and in the females of one species. While the term "deer" has historically been applied to other animals, such as the musk deer and mouse deer, these are now classified into separate families, leaving Cervidae as a distinct and natural grouping of species.12