What does the narrator mean when he says, `A town is a thing like a colonial animal`

A town is comparable to an animal. It develops in stages and becomes older and more clear cut as time goes on.

THe town is a mixture of the colonial (European) and Indigenous. It reacts to specific situations rooted in centuries of culture both imposed and organic. Matters of money, like the pearl mean far more than just wealth. Tribal identity, racism and a host of other variables come into play.

Steinbeck imply that a town behaves like a colony of animals-most likely, the ants that travels in a connected groups; they receive all information and spread it faster using their antenae; especially, information concerning their security and food/a meal to be shared. After all, no such a phrase as 'a colonial animal', we only have 'a colony of animals'. This is my thought, after all, literature has no specific answers.