Deer
Deer are hoofed mammals in the family Cervidae. Most males grow and shed antlers annually, though females also bear antlers in some species.
Cervidae: The mammal family comprising deer, including moose, elk, and reindeer. Deer are members of this family, whose species vary greatly in size and habitat.
White-tailed deer: A North American deer recognized by the white underside of its raised tail. This abundant species illustrates how deer adapt to forests, fields, and suburbs.
Velvet (antler covering): The living skin and blood vessels that cover growing antlers before they harden. Velvet supplies nutrients to rapidly growing antlers and is shed when they mature.
Deer hunting: The pursuit and killing of deer for food, recreation, population control, or other purposes. Hunting is a major way people manage deer populations and use deer as a food source.
Artiodactyl: A hoofed mammal in the order Artiodactyla, whose weight is borne mainly on two toes. Deer belong to this large mammal order alongside cattle, pigs, and camels.
Ruminant: A mammal that digests plant food through microbial fermentation in a multi-chambered stomach and often chews cud. Deer are ruminants, an adaptation that lets them extract nutrients from fibrous plants.
Red deer: A large deer native to Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. Its seasonal rut and roaring stags are well-studied examples of deer mating behavior.
Photoperiodism: A biological response to changes in day length that regulates seasonal events. Changing daylight helps time deer antler cycles and reproductive activity.
Deer farming: The raising of deer in managed enclosures for meat, antlers, hides, or other products. Farming turns wild cervids into livestock, though their needs differ from those of cattle.
Elk: A large deer species; the name usually denotes wapiti in North America and red deer in Europe. The name is often confused with moose, though it denotes a different cervid in North America.