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Wildebeest - An implausibility of wildebeest describes a large gathering of these animals, though herd is more commonly used. The great migration in Africa's Serengeti sees upwards of 1.7 million of these ubiquitous creatures move across Tanzania.

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Squirrel - A group of squirrels is called a scurry. But if you're describing a dray of squirrels, then you're talking about a nest consisting of a mother squirrel and her young.

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Owl - A collection of owls has on occasion been referred to as a parliament. The description probably has its roots in the 14th century and Geoffrey Chaucer's poem, 'The Parliament of Foules.'

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Mosquito - A swarm of mosquitoes can also be termed a scourge of mosquitoes—which perfectly sums up the habits of this infuriating little pest.

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Kangaroo - A mob of kangaroos aptly describes a large gathering of these muscular marsupials. Would you wanna mess with these guys?

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Snake - A collection of these slippery serpents is often described as a pit, or den. But a more fanciful term is a generation of vipers.

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Salmon - One nature's great feats of endurance, the annual mass migration of salmon upriver is known as a run—and a run of salmon is also how to describe a grouping of the fish.

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Wolf - You're quite correct when describing a grouping of wolves as a pack. But a more archaic collective term is a rout of wolves, which dates back to medieval Europe.

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Flamingo - When these elegant rose-pink wading birds get together they're known as a flamboyance of flamingos.

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Hyena - A cackle of hyenas is a collective term often used to describe a gathering of these robust, bone-crushing beasts. A hyena group is also called a clan, but given the diabolical laugh these guys are known for, cackle sounds rather fitting.

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Stingray - A fever of stingrays is how to describe a collection of these graceful sea rays. Mind you, if you're unlucky enough to be stung by one expect pain, swelling, muscle cramps... and, er, a fever!

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Otter - Groups of otters form rafts, which typically contain 10 to 100 animals. Male rafts are larger than female ones. One of the largest rafts ever recorded consisted of around 2000 male sea otters.

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Vulture - The collective noun for a group of vultures is wake, which specifically refers to a group feeding on a carcass. The less ghoulish terms kettle and committee describe groups that are flying and resting in trees, respectively.

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Butterfly - Groups of these beautiful insects are known as a kaleidoscope of butterflies. But you can also speak of a flutter.

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Seal - A group of females with a dominant male is known as a harem of seals. But if it's just a get-together on the beach for a chit-chat, it's a rookery.

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Prairie dog - Larger groups of these highly sociable and cuddly-looking rodents are called colonies. But coterie is the word to use to describe a small family unit.

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Stork - Various collective terms are used to refer to groups of storks, the two frequently used being a muster of storks and a phalanx of storks.

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Tiger - Solitary by nature, tigers rarely get together in groups. When they do, the collective term used is an ambush of tigers. Try not to be around for that!

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Raccoon - A portrait like this perfectly illustrates the collective term for a group of these mammals—a gaze of raccoons.

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Elephant - While a herd of elephants is the more common collective, a memory can also describe a grouping of these gentle giants.

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Cat - A get-together of wild or feral felines is known as a destruction of cats. A group of domesticated cats is a clowder.

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Fox - A skulk of foxes is how to describe a bunch of these cute and cunning animals.  

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Rhinoceros - No, not a herd of rhinoceroses but a stubbornness of rhinoceroses. These huge herbivores can also collectively be called a crash of rhinos. 

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Barracuda - Behavioral patterns of the barracuda include forming a school or tornado to confuse predators. But the accepted collective is a battery of barracudas.

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Raven - An unkindness of ravens is the collective term for a group of these large members of the crow family. Forever associated with an ominous presence, a large assembly of ravens is also known as a conspiracy.

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Shark - When these sleek predators decide to meet up en masse, it's called a shiver of sharks. It's enough to send shivers down your spine.

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Bear - A sleuth of bears is how to describe a group of these large stocky animals.

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Goose - Look at this lot! This is a gaggle of geese, in fact a term for grounded or domestic geese. Otherwise, skein is used to describe geese or other wild birds in flight.

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Sardine - A large gathering of this particular fish species is known as a family of sardines.  

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Zebra -

The far more imaginative term for a herd of zebras is a dazzle of zebras. You can also use the word zeal to describe a group of these handsome animals.

See also: Marvel at the most radiant wildlife on Earth. 

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