Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which deer species has no antlers?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

male white-tailed deer — deer Male white-tailed deer (*Odocoileus virginianus*).

The Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) is the only species of deer in which males lack antlers.21

Instead of antlers, male Chinese water deer are equipped with long, sharp upper canine teeth that protrude from the mouth like tusks, which they use for defense during territorial contests. While they resemble primitive deer in their lack of antlers, they evolved from ancestors that possessed them.21

It is a common misconception that all deer species follow the same pattern regarding antlers; however, there is significant variation across the family Cervidae. For instance, while males typically carry antlers in most species, the reindeer is unique because both males and females grow them.134