Whitetailed deer have a common origin of giraffes who appeared during the Oligocene Epoch. Deer separated from giraffes during the Miocene Epoch about 24 million years ago, and most present day deer evolved during the Pliocene Epoch about 6 million years ago.
The generalized distribution of white-tailed deer is as shown in the map shown below. Specific locations are as shown in the sub-species listing.
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: virginianus
The 38 Sub-species of Odocoileus virginianus are:
Note, the locations shown are for reference only and are not precise. Due to substantial crossbreeding as a result of efforts to restore herds following their severe reductions in the late 19th and early 20th century, the differences in sub-species is difficult to establish.
In the United States and Canada
Elsewhere in North and South America
virginianus (Virginia and adjacent states)
texanus (Texas, adjacent states and northern Mexico)
dacotensis (Alberta and northern Dakota)
macrourus (Kansas and neighboring states)
leucurus (Oregon and western coastal area)
borealis (southeastern Canada and northeastern U. S.)
osceola (northwestern Florida)
hiltonensis (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
venatorius (Hunting Island South Carolina)
taurinsulae (Bulls Island, New Jersey)
mcilhennyi (Avery Island, Louisiana)
clavium (Florida Keys)
couesi (Arizona and north central Mexico)
seminolus (Florida)
negribarbis (Blackbeard Island, Georgia)
ochrourus (northwestern U.S. and Canada)
carminis (Big Bend Texas and northern Mexico)
veraecrucis (eastern Mexico)
mexicanus (central Mexico)
toltecus (southern Mexico}
oaxacensis (southern Mexico)
sinaloae (mid-western Mexico)
acapulcensis (southern Mexico)
thomasi (southeastern Mexico)
yucatanensis (Yucatan and Honduras)
nelsoni (southern Mexico and Guatamala)
truei (Nicaragua and adjacent region)
chiriquensis (Panama)
rothschildi (Coiba Island, Panama)
curassavicus (Curacao Island - Dutch Protectorate)
miquihuanensis (central Mexico)
tropicalis (western Columbia)
margaritae (Margarita Islands, Venezuela)
ustus (Ecuador)
goudotii (Columbia and west Venezuela)
gymnotis (Venezuela and Guianas)
cariacou (French Guiana and north Brazil)
peruvianus (Peru)