“I recently discovered that a group of rhinos isn’t called a herd, like other animals such as elephants, but a crash. This got me to thinking: where do names for groups of animals come from? How do scientists come up with these kinds of names?”

–James, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

I have to admit, I have often wondered this myself. Upon doing some research, I found that a good portion of the seemingly oddball collective names are believed to come from a singular source: a 15th century woman by the name of Dame Juliana Barnes.

Dame Barnes was the prioress of the Sopwell Nunnery near St. Albans and in addition to running a convent, she was also an avid student of animals and outdoor field sports (hawking, hunting and fishing were particular favorites). She is the author of the classic wildlife collective, The Book of St. Albans, which has also become known as The Book of Hawking, Hunting, and Blasting of Arms.  This three-part book is the first tome by a woman to accurately detail outdoor field sports and animal husbandry.

Many collective terms used for groups of animals (such as ‘a melody of harpers’ or ‘an unkindness of ravens’) are believed to come from Dame Barnes’s clearly vivid imagination and are found in the section List of Animal Names in The Book of St. Albans. This particular section has struck the curiosity (and funny bones!) of countless numbers of people over the centuries and has undoubtedly kept the book in the spotlight since it was first published more than 500 years ago.  Most of the collective terms used have nothing to do with any scientific deductions (which answers the question- How do scientists come up with these names? Answer-They don’t) and are thought to stem from the images that come to mind when seeing a group of animals. If this is true, Dame Barnes was mighty successful: a crash of rhinos is an image that most definitely sticks in one’s mind!

Crash into me: two black rhinos a crash makes.

Fun Facts: Some great collective terms for groups of animals
OK- everyone knows that a group of elephants is called a herd but did you know another term for a group of elephants is a memory? Listed below are fun collective terms for some of our favorite African animals. For fun, tried to add some of your own to the list.

Zebras: A zeal OR dazzle

Gorillas: A shrewdness OR troop

Butterflies: A kaleidoscope

Hippos: A bloat

Rhinos: A crash OR stubbornness

Warthogs: A sounder OR singular

Buffalo: A troop, gang OR obstinancy

Cheetahs: A coalition

Giraffes: A tower

Hyenas: A cackle

Author: Erin

Heading up AWF’s membership desk for the past eight years, Erin Keyes has amassed quite a bit of knowledge about Africa’s wildlife and unique wild lands. She’s also an expert on AWF’s membership benefits and programs. She started this blog to share what’s she’s learned and to give AWF supporters another forum for asking questions