Animal Group Behavior

Many types of animals (including humans) are social and form groups of a few or many to help them survive.

Animal groups may be very small—just a few individuals, or very large—thousands or even millions of individuals.

Geese and other birds fly in V-shaped formation because they can conserve energy by lessening wind resistance. Each goose flies slightly behind and above another goose.

Schools of fish provide safety in numbers. Fish that swim in schools are much less likely to be eaten by predators.

Ants work together in a group called a colony or an army to help them survive, grow and reproduce. They build their homes by digging tunnels, create bridges for other ants to cross, cut leaves and bring them to the nest to grow fungus, which feeds the whole group.

Honeybees work together to build nests, reproduce and gather food for the whole group. Worker bees collect nectar from flowers and take it back to the hive to feed the young bees.

Animals like wildebeest travel in large groups (thousands or millions) as they migrate hundreds of miles across the savannah in search of food. These groups keep individuals protected since so many animals are looking out for predators.

One meerkat stands watch and acts as a “sentry.” It will alert the other members of the group if a predator is spotted.

When babies are born, all the other meerkats pitch in and help take care of the babies.

Flamingos are safer in a large group because there are more eyes watching for predators like alligators and crocodiles, but they also all eat the same type of specialized food (brine shrimp), so they tend to gather where that food is found.

Lions hunt in groups called prides. They stalk their prey together over short distances and work together to take the prey down, which can be much larger than they are.

Humans huddle in groups for warmth, work together to build homes, and rescue other people in danger. Humans even practice group behavior similar to geese by riding bicycles behind one another to lessen wind resistance.