Odocoileus

Odocoileus
Deer
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Odocoileus
Rafinesque, 1832[1]
Species

Odocoileus hemionus
Odocoileus virginianus

Odocoileus is a genus of medium-sized deer (family Cervidae) containing two species native to the Americas.[1] The name is sometimes spelt odocoeleus; it is from a contraction of the roots odonto- and coelus meaning "hollow-tooth".

Species

Hybridisation

On the event of hybridisation between the Mule deer and the Whitetail the offspring is subject to ecological post-zygotic reproductive isolation, in which its predator escape technique becomes confused: a mix of the Mule deer's stotting strategy and the Whitetail's sprint strategy cause the hybrid to perform a chaotic mixture of both, making it an easy prey-target for the Coyote.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b Odocoileus, Mammal Species of the World, 3rd Edition