Is there a connection between intimate desire and hunting? We could mention a number of things, but from a linguistic perspective, we’re focusing on the ancient word venery, which derives from the Latin word venor and denotes both intimate desire and hunting (from Latin veneria, referring to Venus).

Strangely, the collective word “terms of venery” refers to a group of creatures. Additionally, many of these animal groups have wacky names that will surely make you laugh, such as a covey of partridges, a murder of crows, or a clowder of cats.

Well, we love animals, and we sure love funny names. You can find plenty of them mentioned in a book that was published many years ago, in 1486, called “The Book of Saint Albans”. If you want to know more about hunting, angling, and hawking, this is the book you should read.

The author of the copy, Juliana Berners, is credited with giving many animal groups very creative but fitting names. Although Berners, who was well-versed in animals, might not have intended for these names to be taken seriously, they have survived the years and are now widely used. We bet you didn’t know what these 7 groups of animals were called! Check ’em out!

1. A lounge of lizards

Maybe Juliana Berners was walking around and she saw a bunch of lizards lounging in the sun when she came up with this one. These tiny animals tend to be very territorial and have a hunting strategy that uses the sit-and-wait method.

What’s interesting about this hilarious term “lounge lizard” is that in the early 1900s, it was used as slang for men who were fancy dressed and hung out in bars, hotel lounges, and cafés, with the intention of seducing rich women.

2. A conspiracy of lemurs

Lemurs are tiny primates that have long tails and live in the beautiful trees on the island of Madagascar. They’re very close to one another, as they live in communities of up to 25 individuals. They like to work together – or conspire – to operate warning signals in order to inform other members of impending danger in their areas.

Lemurs also like to conspire against predators by “mobbing,” which is a technique when a snake, for instance, is attacked by an entire group. These small primates might therefore inspire conspiracies, but they have strong bonds with one another.

3. A smack of jellyfish

We can define a smack as “a strong slap or punch often given with the palm of the hand as a rebuke or punishment”. Some experts say that this is exactly what it feels like when, all of a sudden, you get caught in a bunch of jellyfish.

Swarm and bloom are other collective nouns that are used to describe a group of jellyfish. However, we believe that smack might be the most suitable one. These creatures can be found in both shallow and deep ocean areas, and they can even hurt you while they’re on the beach.

4. A mob of kangaroos

When we think of a mob, we usually have in mind a huge crowd of chaotic people that end up causing a lot of trouble. Kangaroos like to stay with one another and live in groups that range from 10 to more than 100. The main goal of a mob is to prevent violence and protect the younger or powerless members of the group.

…Did you know that the Australian Aboriginal Guugu Yimithirr tribe used to call a gray kangaroo “gangurru”? Well, this is how the word kangaroo was formed.

5. A flamboyance of flamingos

A flock of beautiful and elegant pink birds is what scientists refer to as a “flamboyance of flamingos”. This is a striking and fitting name, if you ask us. Based on this example, it appears that the author enjoyed poetry and the use of alliteration.

We believe the word “flamboyance,” which means something remarkably showy or bold, is accurately descriptive of these sociable birds, whose colors range from light pink to bright red.

6. A bloat of hippopotamuses

Hippopotamuses are large animals that like to live in groups, or bloats, of 10 to 30 creatures. What’s interesting about them is that they have a leader, typically a male hippo. As you already know, bloat is a term people use when their bodies feel swollen with gas or fluid, and that sensation is pretty uncomfortable. Well, hippopotamuses have big bodies that are barrel-shaped and look bloated all the time. Genius.

7. A convocation of eagles

We don’t know about you, but we think that a convocation of eagles sounds pretty fancy, serious, and even regal. We use the word “convocation” when we speak of a big, formal, and important assembly of people.

As some of the employees from the US Fish & Wildlife Service say, is there something more significant than (a convocation of) the image of our country? It’s interesting to note that the term “congregation” also applies to a group of alligators. Possibly just as significant, but not quite as regal.

…Did you know what these groups of animals were called? 

…If you want to read something that is just as funny as this one, we have another great article for you! Check it out: 10 Islands Dominated By Cute Animals!