A Horde of Hamsters

Cartoon animals struggling to hold a heavy Placeholder Image sign while a bird prepares to land on top.

A group of hamsters is playfully known as a horde. What Does “A Horde of Hamsters” Mean? “Horde” is a playful, slightly ironic choice for hamsters, given that most pet hamster species are famously, almost aggressively solitary in the wild and in captivity, often fighting if housed together as adults. The word likely gets its … Read more

A Herd of Elephants

Cartoon animals struggling to hold a heavy Placeholder Image sign while a bird prepares to land on top.

A group of elephants is appropriately known as a herd. What Does “A Herd of Elephants” Mean? “Herd” is the standard collective noun for elephants, and elephant herds are among the most extensively studied and best understood social structures in the animal kingdom. A typical herd is led by a matriarch, usually the oldest and … Read more

A Memory of Elephants

Cartoon animals struggling to hold a heavy Placeholder Image sign while a bird prepares to land on top.

A group of elephants is appropriately known as a memory. What Does “A Memory of Elephants” Mean? “Memory” is a collective noun built directly on elephants’ well-earned reputation, and unlike some animal sayings, “an elephant never forgets” holds up reasonably well under actual scientific scrutiny. Research has documented elephants recognizing other individuals, both elephants and … Read more

A Parade of Elephants

Cartoon animals struggling to hold a heavy Placeholder Image sign while a bird prepares to land on top.

A group of elephants is appropriately known as a parade. What Does “A Parade of Elephants” Mean? “Parade” describes elephants in one of their most recognizable behaviors: moving together in an orderly line, often trunk-to-tail, as a herd travels between feeding grounds, water sources, or away from danger. It’s a genuinely apt visual description, elephants … Read more