A group of snakes is generally called a bed, den, pit or nest, but a group of rattlesnakes is referred to as a rhumba or rumba. It's not entirely clear why it is called a rhumba, but the word comes from a Cuban Spanish term, rumba, which originally meant "party" or "carousel." Terms such as "bed" or "rhumba" are known as collective nouns when they refer to groups of animals.
More collective nouns for animal groups:
- A group of monkeys is often called a tribe or troop, but it can also be called a shrewdness of monkeys. Groups of baboons specifically can be called a flange or congress of baboons, and groups of chimpanzees can be called a harem of chimpanzees.
- Perhaps appropriately, a group of cockroaches is called an intrusion of cockroaches. A group of rats is often called a pack, but it also can be called a mischief. Crows also have particularly negative collective nouns, including an unkindness of crows, as well as a congress, a conspiracy, a parliament and a murder of crows. Doves have a more positive group of names, including a cote of doves and a piteousness of doves.
- A group of ants can be called a bike of ants, and a group of bees can be called a grist of bees.
- Groups of alligators or crocodiles are called congregations, and groups of Komodo dragons are called banks. Both a group of hippopotami and a group of rhinoceri can be called a crash. A group of hippopotami also can be called a bloat.
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