List of collective nouns or especially collective nouns for animals is captured, with more than 50 nos of collective nous. All are described with a suitable explanation so that it can be easily remembered. Let’s explore!
What Do Collective Nouns for Animals Mean?
Collective Nouns for Animals Concept
At some point in their lives, most animals gather into groups, whether they are social butterflies or solitary scavengers. Animals rely on collective wisdom to help them make better decisions, as well as safety in numbers, since a pack of prey is less vulnerable to predators. Those who blur the line between individual and group may limit their social time to mating season.
Whenever creatures form crowds, something strange happens: Their names become bizarre, often silly. Even scientists rarely use these group nouns, but they still represent our species’ collective creativity in linguistics, not to mention our deep-seated affinity for nature.
Here’s a list of collective nouns for animals you might see on this site, so you can be impressed. You don’t know what a Collective Noun is, it’s simply the name for a group of animals of a certain type.
History of Collective Noun for Animals Uses
Many of the words used for animal groups in 18th century books were chosen for their humorous connotations or alliteration, not for their scientific meanings.
Some animal names are general and can be used to describe any subject – swarm, herd, etc. However, many other animal group names are specific to a single species. The pride of lions is known to everyone. You might know that a group of rhinos is called a crash or a stubbornness. Elephants are collectively called Herd, or memory.
List of Collective Nouns for Animals
A list of collective nouns or collective nouns for animals is simply never-ending. There are thousands of animals exist in the world. We all visit Zoo or forest occasionally and everybody loves to see various types of animals.
It is really amazing to see:
- A lot of deer are playing or
- Lions are making noise, or
- Tigers are walking,
- Crocodiles are sleeping,
- Elephants are eating leaves,
- Giraffes are like a tower,
- Rhinos,
- So many, monkeys are roaming here and there
- The beauty of Zebras and many more!
If you visit any forest, you can see their natural habits, or how they act, etc.
Here, we will learn the name of groups when animals are staying together. Suppose, when two or more tigers are staying together we say, an ambush of tigers instead of many tigers.
Let’s explore, the list of collective nouns for animals.
We have covered a big list of the most commonly used collective nouns for animals, let’s begin.
Collection Noun List #1: An Ambush of Tigers
A grouping of tigers would certainly feel like an ambush since tigers tend to be solitary creatures.
When tigers are together, means two or more than two we say, an ambush of tigers. Ambush mean surprise attack after waiting in a concealed position. Tigers also do the same thing.
Collection Noun List #2: A Band of Gorillas
A group of gorillas is called a band. Hence, band, ambush, etc. comes in the list of collective nouns for animals.
Collection Noun Animals #3: A Bloat of Hippopotami
A hippos’ pod can be described as a group of individuals who spend their days in the water and their nights grazing on the riverbanks. A pod of dolphins is also referred to as a ‘bloat’, but these two species are distinctly different, so we think a ‘bloat’ of hippos is a more apt collective noun.
When two or more than two hippos are together, we use, a bloat of hippopotami. Bloat term uses to show their bulky body. Their group can be crash, herd, pod, or dale. Bloat is a very commonly used collective noun for animals.
Unlike what this might sound like, coming across a bloat of hippos out of the water is not something to laugh at, since hippos are considered to be the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Collection Noun Animals #4: A Business of Ferrets
The term business is confusing in the case of animals. Then why this word is used? The word business came from busy-ness. Ferrets are always busy in their business. When they are deeply asleep, you can bring them.
Collection Noun Animals #5: A Cackle of Hyenas
Cackle means to laugh in a loud or in a harsh way. If you visit any forest at night, you will see this sound.
Hyenas are always stayed together and make noise. Cackle is very dangerous for all other animals.
Collection Noun List #6: A Caravan of Camels
A vehicle driven by camels is known as a caravan. These are like a series of camels carrying passengers and goods in the desert areas.
Hence, the caravan comes in the list of collective nouns for animals.
Collection Noun List #7: A Clowder of Cats
A group of cats is known as a clowder. If more than two cats are there, a clowder of cats formed.
Collection Noun Animals #8: A Coalition of Cheetahs
The word ‘coalition’ refers to a group of cheetahs. Cheetahs usually form coalitions of two or three males and are usually formed between brothers. Unrelated males rarely form coalitions with cheetahs.
A coalition is a group of cheetahs. Normally, adult cheetah stays alone or in a group of male cheetahs. In a coalition, normally two to three littermates stayed together and if one cheetah enters in a coalition, that will remain its entire life there.
So, we have learned another new word ‘coalition’, which comes in the list of collective nouns for animals.
Cheetahs form coalitions to defend their territories from males of other coalitions. In contrast, female cheetahs live alone. They hunt and roam alone most of the time. Female cheetahs come into contact with other cheetahs only when they mate.
Collection Noun #9: A Colony of Chinchillas
Colony means a place where human beings live in a society. Chinchillas also stayed in a social group like human beings and they create their own colony.
In each colony, so many chinchillas along with other few animals live together. We say it as, a colony of chinchillas.
Collection Noun #10 Confusion of Wildebeests
The ‘confusion’ of wildebeest is the term for a group of wildebeest. As a result of the noise and confusion that occurs in large migrations of wildebeest, such as the great migration of the Serengeti, we think this might also refer to the strange appearance of the animal.
Collection Noun #11: A Congregation of Crocodiles
Congregation means tend to group together. If you visit Sundarbans, you can see the congregation of crocodiles in many places.
These are very dangerous for many animals like deer, cattle, etc.
Collection Noun #12: A Couple of Impalas
Last time we have visited Jaldapara Forest and we have seen a couple of impalas. These are so attractive that you can not move your eyes from them.
Collection Nouns List #13: A Crash of Rhinoceroses
Rhinos in a group are called a ‘crash’. The passage describes a group of formidable mammals that are usually docile but have a capacity for carnage. It’s especially pertinent for rhinos because most of the time they’ll crash through the bush towards you, and then crash back away right away as soon as they see what you are.
Do you know how much distance rhinos can see in front of them? It is only thirty feet! Now, can you imagine if a group of rhinos is running at full speed, what will happen?
Crash! Nothing else. That is why, we say, a crash of rhinoceroses.
Collection Noun #14: A Destruction of Wildcats
Wildcats don’t like the human environments and if many wildcats are staying together, they can be very dangerous and destructive. That is why, we say, the destruction of wildcats.
Collection Noun #15: A Drove of Bullocks
In our time, we have seen drove of bullocks in villages.
Collection Noun #16: An Earth of Foxes
We have listened to a lot of stories of foxes in childhood. Do you know foxes are bought up in the earth only? A female fox selects an earthen place to raise her young fox.
The female will stay with her cubs until they learned properly.
Collection Noun #17: A Fall of Lambs
Fall lambing is the best procedure to capture additional productivity of sheep and a group of lambs is called the fall of lambs.
Collection Noun#18: A Family of Otters
Many times, we see in the news that a family of otters is crossing the road or sited at the roadside. They all are staying like family and we call them as, a family of otters.
Collection Noun#19: A Flink of Cows
Flink means well-behaved.
Cows are social animals and they don’t hurt us. The term, ‘’well-behaved’’ is related to the behavior of cows.
However, we use a herd of cows for a group of cows and when this group has twelve or more cows, we say, flink of cows.
Collection Nouns List #20: A Flock of Sheep
Flock means a number of animals feeding, resting, or traveling together. Sheep are also traveled together from one place to another, feed together, and rest together. Hence, based on this similarity, a flock of sheep is perfectly matched.
Collection Noun #21: A Gam of Whales
Gam is a common word for a group of whales. The word gam came from game. It means friendly conversation at sea between whalers. These whalers can understand whale’s call.
Collection Noun #22: A Gang of Bison
Bison are always together and they are very strong. They have a strong unity and they form just like a gang and can kill a tiger or lion too.
A simple ANIMATED video,
covered the basics of Collective Nouns
Collection Noun #23: A Harem of Seals
Harem means a group of female animals with one or two males.
A harem of seals consists of one or two males and many females. The dominant male always removes the other males from the harem.
Collection Noun #24: A Herd of Deer
A large group of hoofed mammals, which live together is called a herd. Like deer, or cattle, etc. If you visit any forest, you will see a herd of deer.
Collection Noun#25: A Horde of Hamsters
Hamsters are very small animals and many of us keep them in the house as pets. When two or more than hamsters are there, we say, a horde of hamsters. Hamsters have many colors, like white, black, grey, yellow, brown, red, or a mixture of many colors.
Collection Noun #26: A Huddle of Walruses
Huddle means the crowd together. You will be surprised to see a few thousand walruses together in their mating season. The huddle of walruses are two parts one is for male and another one is for females.
Collection Noun #27: A Husk of Jackrabbits
Jackrabbits are actually hares. There are two species of jackrabbits, the black-tailed jackrabbit, and the white-tailed jackrabbit.
Collection Noun #28: A Kennel of Dogs
Kennel means a shelter for dogs, which we have seen in many houses. It can be made of woods, or canvas, etc.
Collection Noun #29: A Leap of Leopards
Groups of leopards are referred to as leaps or prowls. Leopard leaps typically consist of a mother and two or three cubs, which remain until they are 18 to 24 months old and have learned the skills to hunt on their own. Before parting, males usually accompany a female in estrus for one to two weeks. It is not uncommon for leopards to live in solitude on their home ranges, avoiding contact with each other.
Do you know a leopard can jump over 10 feet in the air and leap 20 feet? Due to their leaping ability, they can grab prey easily. Due to their leaping, a leap of leopard’s term is introduced.
Collection Noun #30: A Leash of Greyhounds
It’s very difficult to control greyhounds, hence, what people do? Keep them on a leash, to control as well as keep them safe and keep others safe. Do you know if don’t leash them, they even cannot cross a road safely, they will be killed.
Collection Noun #31: A Litter of Piglets
Litter means several young animals born to an animal at one time. A well healthy sow produces at least 10 litter i.e. piglets from one pregnancy. A sow can have pregnant two times each year. Due to large numbers of animal’s birth, we say, a litter of piglets.
Collection Noun #32: A Memory of Elephants
We all know from our childhood, that elephants always remember, and their memory is very strong. If you love them, they will never forget you and if you hurt them, one day you will be hurt. The last time, when we have visited the Kaziranga forest, we have seen the memory of elephants.
A group of elephants is alternatively known as a ‘memory’, despite being more commonly known as a herd. Despite the saying ‘an elephant never forgets’ being somewhat exaggerated, research suggests there may be some truth to it. They develop extremely strong social bonds within groups, display intelligence and compassion, and use their memories to safeguard their families.
Collection Noun #33: A Mob of Kangaroos
Just like in human mobs, there’s usually a leader (a “boomer,” or adult male) who is only in power for a short while before being challenged and defeated by a rival boomer.
Collection Noun #34: A Movement of Moles
Have you seen how moles move? Do you have any idea that a mole can tunnel up to twenty meters a day?
Moles are color-blind and see very poorly but they can move a lot and we say, a lot of moles as the movement of moles.
Collection Noun List #35: A Murder of Crows
Crows were once believed to be omens of death and messengers from the devil or evil forces in the 15th century.
Collection Noun #36: A Nursery of Raccoons
Raccoons are social animals and live in families and groups like human beings. The young raccoons stayed with their family for about one year.
This togetherness of raccoons is called the nursery.
Collection Noun #37: An Obstinacy of Buffalos
Obstinance is a characteristic of being impossible to change. Buffalos are having the same nature and we call a group of buffalos as obstinance of buffalos.
It is obvious when in a group what the buffalo is called by their temperament. Their obstinacy is aptly described as ‘obstinate’. It’s never a good idea to challenge lions’ stubbornness, even if you have those bulky bodies and hard helmet-like horns.
Collection Noun Animals #38: A Pace of Asses
Pace means a single step taken when walking or running, if you observe asses, you will clearly be understood.
Collection Noun #39: A Pack of Wolves
When wolves are young, they leave their home to search for their mate to form their own pack. This group is called a pack of wolves. A pack of wolves is very dangerous. These animals always stay together and hunt for food.
Collection Noun #40: A Parliament of Owls
There are examples of this phrase dating back to the late 19th century, but it is unclear when it was invented. There is likely an allusion to Chaucer’s poem “The Parliament of Fowls” in its origin, as well as the use of parliament as a collective noun for rooks.
Collection Noun Animals #41: A Pride of Lions
Lions are the top of the jungle food chain and we say lions are the king of the jungle. Pride reflects the characteristics of lions.
We see lions as proud and consider them as the pride of lions.
Collection Noun #42: A Raft of Otters
Ducks and puffins, for example, form rafts as well, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Collection Noun List #43: A Walk of Snails
It seems strange that a snail would choose to walk, considering it cannot walk. A more accurate description would be the lesser-known but still accepted escargatoire.
Collection Noun #44: A Scurry of Squirrel
Scurry means to move quickly, in uncontrolled manners, and can quickly hide. If you see a squirrel, you will be understood. Hence, a group of squirrels is called a scurry of squirrel.
Collection Noun #45: A String of Racehorses
If you go to any racecourses, you will see the string of racehorses. It looks exceptional.
Collection Noun Animals #46: A Shrewdness of Apes
The term shrewdness has been around since the late 1400s, when it referred to the mischievous nature of apes, though we now know how intelligent they are, so the term still holds true.
Shrewd means a smart or clever way. Apes are the most cleaver animals within ancient animals, and they are the predecessor of humans.
We can see, the shrewdness of apes, in many parts of the world.
Collection Noun #47: A Sloth of Bears
A group of bears is called a sleuth. Sleuth word came from slow. Bears can run with a nominal speed; we cannot say them as slowest animals.
But they are always slowly searching for something and hence, we say, a group of sleuths as the sleuth of bears.
Collection Noun Animals #48: A Sneak of Weasels
Weasels are very small mammals. They have long bodies, short legs, necks, and small heads and move in a furtive way. You can see a sneak of weasels
Weasels live in the open fields, woodlands, roadsides, abandoned burrows, or nests under trees, etc.
Collection Noun #49: A Sounder of Wild Bears
Sounder means which make a sound. During their mating season, adult male wild bears make sound and spend time with sow (female bear) and later on moving on searching for the new sow.
Wild bears are having a very strong body and they are dangerous in case of attack. Hence, the sounder of wild bears should be avoided if you see in your journey.
Collection Noun Animals #50: A Tower of Giraffes
Look at the image of giraffes. Giraffe’s height is very high, just like towers. Tower means we all know the big height. Due to this height of giraffes, a group of giraffes is called tower.
Collection Noun List #51: A Journey of Giraffe
The gangly giraffe is an endearing animal to meet in the wild due to its characteristically long neck and legs. These animals are usually seen in groups, and they are a popular choice among nature enthusiasts. The group of giraffes seen galloping out in the open is called a ‘journey’. The collective noun for them is ‘tower’ if they’re standing still in a group.
Collection Noun #52: A Team of Dolphins
Dolphins come in the news many times, they always stay together and they help others. They are like a team and we say, their group as ‘team of dolphins’
Collection Noun Animals #53: A Town of Prairie Dogs
We know town means, so many types of people, their shelters, their foods, facilities, etc. will be available. Prairie dogs are one kind of animal that can be seen in the central and western United States.
They used to make shelters for other few animals like jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes, etc., and form a town like a place. Many insects also stay in their town.
Collection Nouns List #54: A Tribe of Goats
A group of goats is known as “tribe” and they have a nice characteristic of helping each other. If you go to any village, you can see a tribe of goats.
Collection Noun #55: A Troop of Monkeys
Troop means armed forces in general. Monkeys are always staying together and sometimes they roam to our place as well. The specialty of monkeys is, if you hurt a monkey by any means, one monkey will bring their troop and attack on you like armed forces.
Collection Noun List #56: A Dazzle of Zebras
Zebras can also be classified as a herd, as can elephants and many other ungulates and herbivorous animals. The alternative is more fun, so why use such an overused and boring term? A group of zebras is known as a ‘dazzle’ of zebras because they are one of the most stunning animals in the African bush.
Collection Nouns List #57: A Zeal of Zebras
Zeal means great energy or enthusiasm and zealousness is a related word. If you see National Geographic, you may observe that zebras are biting each other, but do you know what they do?
They are simply grooming their pals, remember zebras are very zealous to keep each other clean.
Conclusion
So, we have learned a list of collective nouns for animals, got the basic details of individual collective nouns. Any doubt, please write to us.
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