Start Exploring Mammal Group Names
Mammals are some of the most fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom, and their collective nouns are just as unique. From a pride of lions to a romp of otters, each group name tells a story about behavior, folklore, or history. That being said, sometimes the collective noun used to describe “a group of..” animals is just outright odd or comical, sometimes even both!
Below you’ll find a growing list of 317 mammal collective nouns across 91 animals — 231 of them link through to a full article. Search or click a column header to sort. Come back often, since this list keeps growing.
| Animal | Collective Noun | Full Term | Scientific Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope | Cluster | A Cluster of Antelope | |
| Antelope | Herd | A Herd of Antelope | |
| Antelope | Tribe | A Tribe of Antelope | |
| Apes | Shrewdness | A Shrewdness of Apes | |
| Apes | Troop | A Troop of Apes | |
| Baboons | Congress | A Congress of Baboons | |
| Baboons | Flange | A Flange of Baboons | |
| Baboons | Rumpus | A Rumpus of Baboons | |
| Baboons | Tribe | A Tribe of Baboons | |
| Baboons | Troop | A Troop of Baboons | |
| Baboons | Troupe | A Troupe of Baboons | |
| Badgers | Cete | A Cete of Badgers | |
| Badgers | Clan | A Clan of Badgers | |
| Badgers | Colony | A Colony of Badgers | |
| Bats | Cauldron | A Cauldron of Bats | Chiroptera |
| Bats | Cloud | A Cloud of Bats | Chiroptera |
| Bats | Colony | A Colony of Bats | Chiroptera |
| Bears | Maul | A Maul of Bears | |
| Bears | Pack | A Pack of Bears | |
| Bears | Sleuth | A Sleuth of Bears | |
| Bears | Sloth | A Sloth of Bears | |
| Bison | Gang | A Gang of Bison | |
| Bison | Herd | A Herd of Bison | |
| Boars | Herd | A Herd of Boars | |
| Boars | Sounder | A Sounder of Boars | |
| Buffalo | Gang | A Gang of Buffalo | |
| Buffalo | Herd | A Herd of Buffalo | |
| Buffalo | Obstinacy | An Obstinacy of Buffalo | |
| Camels | Caravan | A Caravan of Camels | |
| Camels | Flock | A Flock of Camels | |
| Camels | Herd | A Herd of Camels | |
| Camels | Scorn | A Scorn of Camels | |
| Camels | Train | A Train of Camels | |
| Caribou | Herd | A Herd of Caribou | |
| Cats | Clowder | A Clowder of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Cluster | A Cluster of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Clutter | A Clutter of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Dout | A Dout of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Dowt | A Dowt of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Glaring | A Glaring of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Kindle | A Kindle of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats | Litter | A Litter of Cats | Felidae |
| Cats (Wild) | Destruction | A Destruction of Wild Cats | |
| Cattle | Drift | A Drift of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Drove | A Drove of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Fold | A Fold of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Herd | A Herd of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Kine | A Kine of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Mob | A Mob of Cattle | |
| Cattle | Team | A Team of Cattle | |
| Cattle (Two) | Yoke | A Yoke of Cattle | |
| Cheetahs | Coalition | A Coalition of Cheetahs | |
| Chimpanzees | Cartload | A Cartload of Chimpanzees | |
| Chimpanzees | Family | A Family of Chimpanzees | |
| Chimpanzees | Troop | A Troop of Chimpanzees | |
| Chimpanzees | Whoop | A Whoop of Chimpanzees | |
| Colts | Rag | A Rag of Colts | |
| Colts | Rake | A Rake of Colts | |
| Coyotes | Band | A Band of Coyotes | |
| Coyotes | Pack | A Pack of Coyotes | |
| Coyotes | Rout | A Rout of Coyotes | |
| Coyotes | Run | A Run of Coyotes | |
| Deer | Brace | A Brace of Deer | |
| Deer | Bunch | A Bunch of Deer | |
| Deer | Herd | A Herd of Deer | |
| Deer | Leash | A Leash of Deer | |
| Deer | Mob | A Mob of Deer | |
| Deer | Parcel | A Parcel of Deer | |
| Deer | Rangale | A Rangale of Deer | |
| Deer (Roe) | Bevy | A Bevy of Deer | |
| Dogs | Brace | A Brace of Dogs | Canidae |
| Dogs | Cry | A Cry of Dogs | Canidae |
| Dogs | Kennel | A Kennel of Dogs | Canidae |
| Dogs | Leash | A Leash of Dogs | Canidae |
| Dogs | Pack | A Pack of Dogs | Canidae |
| Dogs (Puppies) | Litter | A Litter of Dogs Puppies | |
| Dolphins | Flock | A Flock of Dolphins | Delphinidae |
| Dolphins | Herd | A Herd of Dolphins | Delphinidae |
| Dolphins | Pod | A Pod of Dolphins | Delphinidae |
| Dolphins | School | A School of Dolphins | Delphinidae |
| Dolphins | Team | A Team of Dolphins | Delphinidae |
| Donkeys | Drove | A Drove of Donkeys | |
| Donkeys | Herd | A Herd of Donkeys | |
| Donkeys | Pace | A Pace of Donkeys | |
| Eland | Herd | A Herd of Eland | |
| Elephants | Herd | A Herd of Elephants | Elephantidae |
| Elephants | Memory | A Memory of Elephants | Elephantidae |
| Elephants | Parade | A Parade of Elephants | Elephantidae |
| Elk | Gang | A Gang of Elk | |
| Elk | Herd | A Herd of Elk | |
| Ferrets | Business | A Business of Ferrets | |
| Ferrets | Cast | A Cast of Ferrets | |
| Ferrets | Fesnying | A Fesnying of Ferrets | |
| Ferrets | Fesnyng | A Fesnyng of Ferrets | |
| Foxes | Earth | An Earth of Foxes | |
| Foxes | Fleet | A Fleet of Foxes | |
| Foxes | Lead | A Lead of Foxes | |
| Foxes | Leash | A Leash of Foxes | |
| Foxes | Skulk | A Skulk of Foxes | |
| Foxes | Troop | A Troop of Foxes | |
| Giraffes | Caravan | A Caravan of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Corps | A Corps of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Herd | A Herd of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Journey | A Journey of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Stretch | A Stretch of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Totter | A Totter of Giraffes | |
| Giraffes | Tower | A Tower of Giraffes | |
| Gnus | Herd | A Herd of Gnus | |
| Gnus | Implausibility | An Implausibility of Gnus | |
| Goats | Drove | A Drove of Goats | |
| Goats | Flock | A Flock of Goats | |
| Goats | Herd | A Herd of Goats | |
| Goats | Tribe | A Tribe of Goats | |
| Goats | Trip | A Trip of Goats | |
| Gorillas | Band | A Band of Gorillas | |
| Gorillas | Woop | A Woop of Gorillas | |
| Hares | Down | A Down of Hares | |
| Hares | Drove | A Drove of Hares | |
| Hares | Flick | A Flick of Hares | |
| Hares | Herd | A Herd of Hares | |
| Hares | Husk | A Husk of Hares | |
| Hares | Huske | A Huske of Hares | |
| Hares | Kindle | A Kindle of Hares | |
| Hares | Leap | A Leap of Hares | |
| Hares | Leash | A Leash of Hares | |
| Hares | Trace | A Trace of Hares | |
| Hares | Trip | A Trip of Hares | |
| Hares | Warren | A Warren of Hares | |
| Hedgehogs | Array | An Array of Hedgehogs | |
| Hedgehogs | Prickle | A Prickle of Hedgehogs | |
| Hinds | Parcel | A Parcel of Hinds | |
| Hippopotamuses | Bloat | A Bloat of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | Crash | A Crash of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | Herd | A Herd of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | Huddle | A Huddle of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | Pod | A Pod of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | School | A School of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hippopotamuses | Thunder | A Thunder of Hippopotamuses | |
| Hogs | Drift | A Drift of Hogs | |
| Hogs | Drove | A Drove of Hogs | |
| Hogs | Parcel | A Parcel of Hogs | |
| Hogs | Passel | A Passel of Hogs | |
| Hogs | Sounder | A Sounder of Hogs | |
| Horses | Drove | A Drove of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Herd | A Herd of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Pair | A Pair of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Span | A Span of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Stable | A Stable of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | String | A String of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Stud | A Stud of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Team | A Team of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses | Troop | A Troop of Horses | Equidae |
| Horses (Large Group) | Remuda | A Remuda of Horses | |
| Hyenas | Cackle | A Cackle of Hyenas | |
| Hyenas | Clan | A Clan of Hyenas | |
| Ibex | Herd | A Herd of Ibex | |
| Impalas | Couple | A Couple of Impalas | |
| Kangaroo | Court | A Court of Kangaroo | |
| Kangaroo | Flock | A Flock of Kangaroo | |
| Kangaroo | Mob | A Mob of Kangaroo | |
| Kangaroo | Troop | A Troop of Kangaroo | |
| Leopards | Leap | A Leap of Leopards | |
| Leopards | Lepe | A Lepe of Leopards | |
| Leopards | Snarl | A Snarl of Leopards | |
| Lions | Flock | A Flock of Lions | Felidae |
| Lions | Pride | A Pride of Lions | Felidae |
| Lions | Sault | A Sault of Lions | Felidae |
| Lions | Sowse | A Sowse of Lions | Felidae |
| Lions | Troop | A Troop of Lions | Felidae |
| Llamas | Flock | A Flock of Llamas | |
| Llamas | Herd | A Herd of Llamas | |
| Lynx | Chain | A Chain of Lynx | |
| Manatees | Aggregation | An Aggregation of Manatees | |
| Manatees | Herd | A Herd of Manatees | |
| Mares | Band | A Band of Mares | |
| Mares | Harem | A Harem of Mares | |
| Mares | Herd | A Herd of Mares | |
| Mares | Overbearance | An Overbearance of Mares | |
| Mares | Rag | A Rag of Mares | |
| Mares | Rake | A Rake of Mares | |
| Mares | Riot | A Riot of Mares | |
| Mares | Stable | A Stable of Mares | |
| Mares | String | A String of Mares | |
| Mares | Stud | A Stud of Mares | |
| Mares | Team | A Team of Mares | |
| Martens | Richesse | A Richesse of Martens | |
| Martens | Richness | A Richness of Martens | |
| Meerkats | Mob | A Mob of Meerkats | |
| Minks | Company | A Company of Minks | |
| Minks | Richness | A Richness of Minks | |
| Moles | Company | A Company of Moles | |
| Moles | Labour | A Labour of Moles | |
| Moles | Movement | A Movement of Moles | |
| Mongoose | Business | A Business of Mongoose | |
| Mongoose | Committee | A Committee of Mongoose | |
| Mongoose | Curiosity | A Curiosity of Mongoose | |
| Mongoose | Mob | A Mob of Mongoose | |
| Mongoose | Troop | A Troop of Mongoose | |
| Moose | Herd | A Herd of Moose | |
| Mules | Barren | A Barren of Mules | |
| Mules | Pack | A Pack of Mules | |
| Mules | Rake | A Rake of Mules | |
| Mules | Span | A Span of Mules | |
| Mules | String | A String of Mules | |
| Munchkins | Clowder | A Clowder of Munchkins | |
| Munchkins | Cluster | A Cluster of Munchkins | |
| Munchkins | Clutter | A Clutter of Munchkins | |
| Opossum | Passel | A Passel of Opossum | |
| Orangutans | Buffoonery | A Buffoonery of Orangutans | |
| Otters | Bevy | A Bevy of Otters | |
| Otters | Family | A Family of Otters | |
| Otters | Raft | A Raft of Otters | |
| Otters | Ramp | A Ramp of Otters | |
| Otters | Romp | A Romp of Otters | |
| Pekinese | Pomp | A Pomp of Pekinese | |
| Pigs | Drove | A Drove of Pigs | |
| Pigs | Fleet | A Fleet of Pigs | |
| Pigs | Herd | A Herd of Pigs | |
| Pigs | Litter | A Litter of Pigs | |
| Pigs | Sounder | A Sounder of Pigs | |
| Polar Bears | Aurora | An Aurora of Polar Bears | |
| Polar Bears | Celebration | A Celebration of Polar Bears | |
| Polar Bears | Pack | A Pack of Polar Bears | |
| Polecats | Business | A Business of Polecats | |
| Polecats | Chine | A Chine of Polecats | |
| Ponies | Herd | A Herd of Ponies | |
| Ponies | Riot | A Riot of Ponies | |
| Ponies | String | A String of Ponies | |
| Poodles | Curl | A Curl of Poodles | |
| Poodles | Oodle | An Oodle of Poodles | |
| Poodles | Salon | A Salon of Poodles | |
| Porpoises | Gam | A Gam of Porpoises | |
| Porpoises | Herd | A Herd of Porpoises | |
| Porpoises | Pod | A Pod of Porpoises | |
| Porpoises | School | A School of Porpoises | |
| Porpoises | Turmoil | A Turmoil of Porpoises | |
| Possum | Passel | A Passel of Possum | |
| Rabbits | Berry | A Berry of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Bury | A Bury of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Colony | A Colony of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Down | A Down of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Drove | A Drove of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Flick | A Flick of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Herd | A Herd of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Husk | A Husk of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Leash | A Leash of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Nest | A Nest of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Trace | A Trace of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Trip | A Trip of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Warren | A Warren of Rabbits | |
| Rabbits | Wrack | A Wrack of Rabbits | |
| Raccoons | Gaze | A Gaze of Raccoons | |
| Raccoons | Mask | A Mask of Raccoons | |
| Raccoons | Nursery | A Nursery of Raccoons | |
| Racehorses | Field | A Field of Racehorses | |
| Racehorses | Meet | A Meet of Racehorses | |
| Racehorses | Remuda | A Remuda of Racehorses | |
| Racehorses | String | A String of Racehorses | |
| Rhinoceroses | Crash | A Crash of Rhinoceroses | |
| Rhinoceroses | Herd | A Herd of Rhinoceroses | |
| Rhinoceroses | Stubbornness | A Stubbornness of Rhinoceroses | |
| Sheep | Down | A Down of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Drift | A Drift of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Drove | A Drove of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Flock | A Flock of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Fold | A Fold of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Herd | A Herd of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Hurtle | A Hurtle of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Meinie | A Meinie of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Mob | A Mob of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Parcel | A Parcel of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Trip | A Trip of Sheep | |
| Sheep | Wing | A Wing of Sheep | |
| Show Dogs | Bench | A Bench of Show Dogs | |
| Silver Foxes | Richness | A Richness of Silver Foxes | |
| Skunks | Stench | A Stench of Skunks | |
| Skunks | Surfeit | A Surfeit of Skunks | |
| Tapirs | Candle | A Candle of Tapirs | |
| Tapirs | Herd | A Herd of Tapirs | |
| Tigers | Ambush | An Ambush of Tigers | |
| Tigers | Hide | A Hide of Tigers | |
| Tigers | Streak | A Streak of Tigers | |
| Wallabies | Mob | A Mob of Wallabies | |
| Walruses | Herd | A Herd of Walruses | |
| Walruses | Huddle | A Huddle of Walruses | |
| Walruses | Pod | A Pod of Walruses | |
| Walruses | Ugly | An Ugly of Walruses | |
| Weasels | Gang | A Gang of Weasels | |
| Weasels | Pack | A Pack of Weasels | |
| Weasels | Sneak | A Sneak of Weasels | |
| Whales | Float | A Float of Whales | |
| Whales | Gam | A Gam of Whales | |
| Whales | Grind | A Grind of Whales | |
| Whales | Herd | A Herd of Whales | |
| Whales | Mob | A Mob of Whales | |
| Whales | Plump | A Plump of Whales | |
| Whales | Pod | A Pod of Whales | |
| Whales | Run | A Run of Whales | |
| Whales | School | A School of Whales | |
| Whales | Shard | A Shard of Whales | |
| Whales | Shoal | A Shoal of Whales | |
| Whales | Troupe | A Troupe of Whales | |
| Whales (Bottle Nosed) | Grind | A Grind of Bottle Nosed Whales | |
| Wildcats | Destruction | A Destruction of Wildcats | |
| Wildcats | Dout | A Dout of Wildcats | |
| Wildebeest | Herd | A Herd of Wildebeest | |
| Wolves | Group | A Group of Wolves | |
| Wolves | Pack | A Pack of Wolves | |
| Wolves | Rout | A Rout of Wolves | |
| Wolves | Troop | A Troop of Wolves | |
| Wombats | Wisdom | A Wisdom of Wombats | |
| Yak | Herd | A Herd of Yak | |
| Zebra | Cohort | A Cohort of Zebra | |
| Zebra | Dazzle | A Dazzle of Zebra | |
| Zebra | Herd | A Herd of Zebra | |
| Zebra | Stripe | A Stripe of Zebra | |
| Zebra | Zeal | A Zeal of Zebra |
FAQ About Collective Nouns for Mammals
Curious about the unusual and sometimes funny names used to describe groups of mammals? This FAQ covers the most common questions about mammal collective nouns.
What is the most famous mammal collective noun?
Probably the pride of lions, thanks to their social structure and frequent appearances in culture and media.
Do people still use these collective nouns today?
Yes, although some are more poetic than practical. Many remain part of common language.
Which mammal has the funniest group name?
The “romp of otters” is a strong contender, it’s playful and perfectly fitting.
What is the oldest known collective noun for a mammal?
Many of these terms trace back to the 15th-century Book of St. Albans. Examples include a sleuth of bears and a shrewdness of apes, both in use for hundreds of years.
Which collective noun is the rarest or least used today?
Terms like a surfeit of skunks or a labour of moles are rarely heard outside of trivia and literature, but they’re still considered correct.
Why do some mammals have multiple collective nouns?
Over the centuries, hunters, poets, and naturalists coined different names for the same animals. For example, elephants can be a herd or a parade, and cats can be a clowder or a glaring. None are wrong — usage often depends on context or tradition.