Collective Nouns for Animals

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There are many interesting collective nouns for animals of all shapes and sizes. From the funny to the downright weird, this article will keep you glued to our blog for ages!

a group of hippos

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Collective Nouns for Animals

  • A congregation of alligators.
  • A troop of baboons.
  • A flutter of butterflies.
  • A caravan of camels.
  • An army of caterpillars.
  • A coalition of cheetahs.
  • An intrusion of cockroaches.
  • A convocation of eagles.
  • A herd of cattle.
  • A pack of dogs.
  • A memory of elephants.
  • A business of ferrets.
  • A school of fish.
  • A tower of giraffes.
  • A band of gorillas.
  • A bloat of hippos.
  • A mob of kangaroos.
  • A pride of lions.
  • A parliament of owls.
  • A pandemonium of parrots.
a group of macaw parrots sitting in a tree
  • A rookery of penguins.
  • A nursery of raccoons.
  • A cohort of zebras.

A Group of… is Called…

Did you know?

  • A group of bees is called a bike? Beats us as they fly, we mean, have you ever seen a bee ride a bike?
  • A group of sardines is called a family – makes one feel kind of guilty when your feline munches on one, doesn’t it?
  • A group of cats is called a glaring. Yip! Makes perfect sense, the way some cats stare at you is enough to strike fear, wondering if they are planning any murderous thoughts…
  • Think about this one for a moment. A group of rattlesnakes is called a rhumba – just like the dance! This is due to the sound that their tails make when they feel threatened by what they perceive as danger.
  • This next one has us very perplexed, but we guess it makes sense. A group of iguanas is called a mess – you know tails and scales everywhere?
  • A group of elks is called a gang. Yikes! With those antlers, they might as well be a gang of horns!
  • This one has to be one of the best. A group of walrusses is called a huddle! Too cute for words!
  • The next one creates a nice visual picture. A group of clams is called a bed – we think it is a very apt description.
  • Do you know what a group of sharks is called? You guessed it – a shiver! Want to know why? Then watch the movie Jaws!
upclose photo of a shark with an open jaw
  • Another firm favorite on our list has to be a group of rhinoceroses. They are called a crash.
  • A group of hamsters is called a horde!
  • A group of kittens is called a kindle – we think that the word cuddle is more suitable, right?
  • The collective noun for a group of aardvark is called an armory. Let’s face it, it does look like they are dressed for war!
  • A group of alpacas is called a herd – seriously?
  • Did you know that a group of armadillos is called a roll – yes, we aren’t joking!
  • A group of badgers is called a crete.
  • A cloud is what you call a group of bats!
  • Pigs are very vocal, so it comes as no surprise that a group of boars in the wild is called a sounder – you will be able to hear them from miles away as they communicate with one another.
  • A group of butterflies is called a flutter! Seems very fitting with all the pretty colors they present.
  • A group of chickens is called a clutch or a peep.
  • A group of crabs is called a cast.
  • A group of young dogs is called a litter.
  • A group of donkeys is called a coffle.
  • A group of ducks, especially mallards, is called a badling!
mallard duck swimming
  • A group of eagles is called a convocation – sounds intimidating, doesn’t it?

If you enjoyed these quick fire facts, why not read our article on 13 Animal Heart Rates too!

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