The spell listing for Conjure Animals includes a helpful list of "Sample Creatures" (not in the PHB) which includes swarms (e.g. Swarm of Rats). As far as I know, Conjure Animals cannot summon swarms (it says "eight beasts of CR 1/4 or lower"; a swarm is not "a" beast, so eight swarms is not eight creatures). In any case, even if it can be argued that it can summon swarms, and even though many DMs will allow it (I do, in my games), it is, at the very least, a controversial topic, and including swarms in the listing may make it seem like it's official.
I've noticed this error as well. The conjure fey spell has the same issue.
You are correct that these spells can't summon swarms, because they summon a specified number of individual beasts, and swarms are not a singular beast. Swarms are also described in the Monster Manual appendix (p. 337) as a result of "sinister or unwholesome influence". I cite this MM text, as well as replies from Crawford, Mearls, and Perkins pointing out that Wild Shape can't turn you into a swarm (and conjure animals would obey the same logic) in my answer here to a question about conjure animals and swarms.
As such, this is definitely a bug. I hope D&D Beyond fixes it.
The spell listing for Conjure Animals includes a helpful list of "Sample Creatures" (not in the PHB) which includes swarms (e.g. Swarm of Rats). As far as I know, Conjure Animals cannot summon swarms (it says "eight beasts of CR 1/4 or lower"; a swarm is not "a" beast, so eight swarms is not eight creatures). In any case, even if it can be argued that it can summon swarms, and even though many DMs will allow it (I do, in my games), it is, at the very least, a controversial topic, and including swarms in the listing may make it seem like it's official.
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ModeratorI've noticed this error as well. The conjure fey spell has the same issue.
You are correct that these spells can't summon swarms, because they summon a specified number of individual beasts, and swarms are not a singular beast. Swarms are also described in the Monster Manual appendix (p. 337) as a result of "sinister or unwholesome influence". I cite this MM text, as well as replies from Crawford, Mearls, and Perkins pointing out that Wild Shape can't turn you into a swarm (and conjure animals would obey the same logic) in my answer here to a question about conjure animals and swarms.
As such, this is definitely a bug. I hope D&D Beyond fixes it.
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D&D Beyond FoundersWe called in the exterminators and removed those swarms from both Conjure Animals and Conjure Fey.
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ModeratorExcellent! Thanks.