Antarctic krill are tiny shrimp-like crustaceans that form the foundational link in the Southern Ocean food web. Existing in staggering densities — swarms can cover hundreds of square kilometers and weigh millions of tons — they are the primary food source for whales, seals, penguins, and seabirds. Their total biomass is estimated at 379-500 million metric tons, making them one of the most abundant animal species on Earth by total mass.
About the Krill
Euphausia superba
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💡 Fun Facts
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Antarctic krill can shrink their body size during food shortages by actually digesting their own muscles and organs.
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Krill swarms can be so dense they are visible from space and turn the ocean surface pink or orange.
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Krill excrete iron-rich feces that fertilize phytoplankton, effectively 'pumping' nutrients from deep water to the surface.
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They can survive under sea ice in winter by scraping algae from the underside of the ice with specialized feeding appendages.
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A single blue whale consumes up to 4 tonnes of krill per day during feeding season.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Southern Ocean
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