What Is a Group of Alligators Called? It Sounds Surprisingly Formal

Officially, this is called a congregationâbut we call it mildly terrifying. Bemarina / Shutterstock

If you have ever seen several gators piled together along a riverbank, you may have wondered, "What is a group of alligators called?"

Like many animal group names, the answer depends on language, history, and how people describe behavior.

Alligators are reptiles, not mammals or birds, but they still picked up collective nouns the same way other animals did. Humans noticed patterns, then created words to describe what they saw.

Contents

The Most Common Term Is Congregation
Why Other Words Get Used Anyway
How Alligators Behave in Groups
Collective Nouns Across the Animal World

The Most Common Term Is Congregation

The most widely accepted collective noun for a group of alligators is "congregation." You will see this term used in dictionaries, wildlife references and animal group name lists.

A congregation is a large group of alligators gathered together, typically to bask for warmth or to rest—not for hunting. During cooler weather, adults often sleep close together to conserve heat, creating the classic image of a crowded shoreline.

Why Other Words Get Used Anyway

Some people might informally refer to a group of alligators as a "gang," or use "nest" to describe a mother alligator with her hatchlings. However, these are uncommon terms; “congregation” is the widely accepted collective noun for alligators in dictionaries and wildlife references.

Language is flexible. People borrow collective nouns from other animals, such as a herd of wild horses or a flock of birds, even when scientists would not prefer those terms.

Over time, some of these labels stick through common use rather than strict definition.

How Alligators Behave in Groups

Alligators do not form tight family communities the way mammals often do. A group usually consists of unrelated adults sharing a good hunting or resting spot.

Mothers behave differently. A female will guard her nest and protect hatchlings, but once young alligators grow, they disperse. A congregation is less about social bonding and more about opportunity.

Collective Nouns Across the Animal World

Animal group names range from practical to playful. A school of fish describes movement. A swarm of insects reflects numbers. Others lean toward humor or imagery, like a murder of crows or a gaze of raccoons.

Alligators sit somewhere in the middle. Congregation sounds formal, but it matches how these reptiles gather without much interaction. Compared with mammals like bears, cats, or otters, alligators keep things simple.

Whether it is a raft of otters, a gaggle of geese or a congregation of alligators, these words help humans describe the natural world with color and clarity, even when the animals themselves are not paying attention.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.