Squeaks and I have tons of fun when a group of our friends get together here at the fort
And that got me thinking…we have different names for different groups of people.
Like, a group of kids that all have the same teacher is called a class…
And the people we’re related to, or who we live with, or who take care of each other
-- like our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters -- we call them a family.
Well, groups of animals have special names, too!
And I bet you might even have heard some of them.
For example, some groups of animals are called herds.
Most of the time, animals that move in herds have hooves.
This means their feet have a tough, hard covering to help protect them.
Horses, cattle, and deer all move in herds.
You might also have heard the word flock.
A big group of birds, especially ones that live or travel or eat together, are called
flocks.
So if you see a bunch of geese, ducks, or chickens, then you’re looking at a flock.
And you also might know that people aren’t the only living things that hang out in schools!
Do you know what kind of animals live in groups called schools?
[Squeaks squeaks]
Good job, Squeaks!
Fish!
Big groups of fish are often called schools.
So, you might be wondering where these names come from.
And the answer is that sometimes names come from words in other languages.
For example, the word school comes from a Dutch word that means ‘crowd’…so a school
of fish is another way to say a crowd of fish.
Makes sense to me!
But sometimes we give groups of animals a name because that name describes something
about the animal.
For example, some group names tell us where the animal lives.
A bee’s home is called a hive.
So, a group of bees is sometimes called a hive, too.
Lots of different animals make their homes in nests.
So we call these animal groups nests.
Groups of snakes and rabbits are called nests… and guess what else, Squeaks?
You’ve got it!
Mice.
[Squeaks squeaks]
That’s right, Squeaks.
A lot of animal groups have more than one name, too!
Like rats.
A group of rats is called a colony...pack...swarm...horde...or, my favorite...a mischief.
So, let’s play a guessing game.
I’ll tell you the animal, and you see if you can guess what a group of those animals
is called!
Don’t worry, I’ll give you some hints to help you out.
Clams and oysters live buried in the bottom of the ocean.
These animals don’t move around very much…they do all of their living in one spot, covered
up with a blanket of sand.
So do you think a group of oysters or clams is called…
…a bed…an army…or a flock?
If you guessed bed, you’re right!
Oysters and clams don’t really sleep, but since they’re usually buried in a cozy patch
of ground, groups of oysters and clams are called beds!
Okay, let’s try another.
How about prairie dogs?
These little animals and their families live in burrows -- long underground tunnels that
they use like streets to travel back and forth.
So, do you think the group of prairie dogs and where they live is called…
…a herd…a town…or a troop?
Town is correct!
Just like you use streets to get around in your city or town, the prairie dogs use burrows
to get around in their town.
Let’s try one more…the lion.
Now, the name of a group of lions doesn’t tell us about where it lives…but it tells
us something about how people think about the animal, or what they remind me of.
Here’s a hint.
Sometimes people call this animal the ‘King of the Beasts’.
Doesn’t he look proud of himself?
Do you think a group of lions is called a bed…a swarm…or a pride?
If you guessed “pride,” you’re right!
A long time ago, people thought lions looked like they were very proud of themselves, so
today we call a group of lions a pride.
And these are only a few of the really cool animal groups out there.
Ask a grown up to help you look up the name of your favorite animal’s group.
And let us know what you learned!
Thanks for joining me at SciShow Kids!
Do you have a question you’d like to ask us?
Just get help from a grown up and ask us in the comments below, or send us an email at
Kids@SciShow.com.