Animal Group Names & A Collection of Characters: Part II – Land Mammals

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In my last article, we looked at the idea of group names for animals as metaphors in fiction. It is such a long list, so we began with groups names of birds. For example, we have all heard of a murder of crows. You can refer to group of characters, let’s say – assassins, as a murder of crows.

We are on land today. There are many mammals who roam the earth, and their collective names are just as varied and interesting as those of the birds. Think of the phrase, “a pride of lions.” If you have a collection of characters who are particularly arrogant, this would fit marvelously. So here is the list.

A shrewdness of apes
A cauldron of bats
A sleuth of bears
An obstinacy of buffalo
A pace of donkeys
A parade of elephants
A gang of elk
A business of ferrets
A tower of giraffes
A tribe of goats
A band of gorillas
A thunder of hippopotamuses
A cackle of hyenas
A shadow of jaguar
A mob of kangaroo
A conspiracy of lemurs
A leap of leopards
A barrel of monkeys
A romp of otters
A passel of pigs
A prickle of porcupines
A warren of rabbits
A crash of rhinoceroses
A streak of tigers

I find this list wonderful. I’ve already used one of the collective terms of birds in my work in progress, a scold of jaybirds. Using these group names of animals as metaphors for your groups of characters will add a layer of flavor and color to your prose, and you’ll be glad you did it.