A group of apes is called a shrewdness, but they may also be called a troop.
Apes, from chimpanzees to gorillas to orangutans, are among the most intelligent animals on Earth, and their most distinctive collective noun reflects exactly that reputation.
What Is a Group of Apes Called?
The most distinctive and widely cited term is a shrewdness of apes, a direct nod to their intelligence. Troop is a more general alternate, borrowed from primate terminology used across monkeys and apes alike.
Where Did the Name Come From?
“Shrewdness” doesn’t trace back to old hunting-list traditions like the Book of Saint Albans; it’s a more descriptive, modern-feeling term, chosen specifically to highlight ape cognition, tool use, problem-solving, and complex social behavior that sets great apes apart from most other animals. “Troop,” by contrast, is a much older and more generic primate term, used broadly across monkey and ape species without singling out any particular trait.
Ape Facts
- Habitat: Apes are found in the forests of Central Africa (gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos) and Southeast Asia (orangutans, gibbons).
- Social behavior: Social structures vary widely by species, from the multi-male, multi-female communities of chimpanzees to the largely solitary lives of adult orangutans.
- Diet: Mostly omnivorous, with diets ranging from fruit-heavy (orangutans, chimpanzees) to primarily plant-based (gorillas), supplemented occasionally with insects or, in chimpanzees, hunted meat.
- Lifespan: Great apes can live 35-50 years in the wild, and considerably longer in captivity.
- Distinctive: Apes are among the few animals besides humans documented using and even crafting tools in the wild, from termite-fishing sticks to nut-cracking stones.
Example Sentences
- Researchers observed a shrewdness of apes working together to solve the puzzle feeder.
- A troop of apes moved through the canopy, calling to keep the group together.
Other Names for a Group of Apes
Apes are also called a troop, a broader term shared with other primates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of apes called?
A group of apes is called a shrewdness, or more generally, a troop.
Why are apes called a “shrewdness”?
The term highlights ape intelligence, including tool use, problem-solving, and complex social behavior.
Do all apes live in groups?
Not all. Chimpanzees and bonobos live in large social communities, while adult orangutans are largely solitary outside of mother-offspring bonds.
Do apes really use tools?
Yes, several ape species use and even craft tools in the wild, including sticks for termite fishing and stones for cracking nuts.
Related: Collective Nouns for Mammals