The scientific name of white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman) (Cervidae) . There are 38 subspecies in the world.
Subspecies are distinguished by body size, pelage color, skull form and dentition, size and shape of antlers, and geographical distribution . However, morphometric characteristics can be influenced by habitat characteristics , and the distinction of North American subspecies has been brought into question by genetic analyses. Cronin found no variation in mitochondrial DNA among white-tailed deer subspecies. Gavin and May concluded that the genetic distance of Columbian white-tailed deer based upon allelic frequencies may not be sufficiently different from that of the northwestern white-tailed deer to warrant subspecific designation. Early genetic work with allozymes found no significant genetic differentiation among 6 subspecies covering the northern, Blackbeard Island, Florida, Texas, and Virginia white-tailed deer . A review stated that the subspecific status of Key deer is "unquestionable, being geographically, phenotypically, and genetically differentiated" [155]. Other studies found some regional differentiation among white-tailed deer subspecies in the Southeast, but the genetic division did not match described subspecies ranges (e.g., [93,104,220]). Preliminary investigations into the genetic uniqueness of Coues white-tailed deer suggests it may warrant subspecific designation (Paetkau unpublished data cited in .
Translocations have led to intermixing of subspecies in some areas [76,131,155], and subspecies may interbreed where they coexist [77]. Leberg and Ellsworth [220] concluded that translocations have had substantial and persistent effects on the genetic composition of white-tailed deer populations in the Southeast based upon mitochondrial DNA and allozyme variation.
This review synthesizes information about white-tailed deer at the species level, except for Key deer and the Columbian white-tailed deer, which due to their past or present status as federally listed endangered species in all or parts of their ranges [95,155], are mentioned by their common subspecies names when possible. In some publications the term "deer" was used to describe white-tailed deer and mule deer in combination. In those cases, this review does the same.
