This list of collective nouns for animals (also called collective terms and terms of venery) can never be definitive but it is fun. A “collective noun” refers to “plural-only” words such as cattle for cows and people for person. Detailed grammar definitions are beyond the scope of this collective nouns for animals ADDucation list! There are currently around 5,400 mammal species worldwide which includes bats, whales, dolphins, and porpoises.