Krill
ExploreInvertebrate
Krill
Grimothea
Krill are tiny, shrimp-like creatures that live in the ocean. They are an important food source for many animals, like whales and penguins.
Habitat: Marine
Appearance
The Krill has a translucent, shrimp-like body, often with a reddish hue due to pigments from its diet. It features large, prominent black eyes and visible light-producing organs along its underside, giving it a distinctive glow in the deep ocean.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyMunididaeGenusGrimothea
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single blue whale can eat up to four tons of krill in just one day!
Krill can molt their entire exoskeleton up to ten times a year as they grow!
Krill swarms can be denser than any animal group, with up to 30,000 individuals in one cubic meter!
Some krill can shrink their bodies in winter to save energy when food is scarce!
Special abilities
Ability
Ocean Glow Show
Krill can glow with their own light using special organs called photophores that helps them hide from predators and communicate.
Ability
Underwater Sweepers
Krill can filter-feed by using their basket-like legs to sweep up tiny plants from the water, which helps them collect food.
Ability
Super Swarmers
Krill can form massive groups called swarms that helps them confuse predators and find mates more easily.
Ability
Quick Getaway
Krill can rapidly swim backwards by flipping their tails, a quick escape maneuver that helps them dodge danger.
Measurements & details
- Size
- 10-60 mm
- Lifespan
- 1825-2190 days
- Leg Count
- 10
Diet & Feeding
Tiny ocean plants are a krill's main meal, which they filter from the water.
Primary Foods
- Phytoplankton
- Diatoms
- Algae
Foraging Method
- Filter Feeding
Ecological connections
eats
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
They consume tons of krill daily, making them crucial for whales.
eats
Adélie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Krill are a vital food source for these penguins in Antarctica.
eats
Antarctic Algae
Phaeocystis antarctica
Krill graze on this abundant microscopic algae as their primary food.
eats
Weddell Seal
Leptonychotes weddellii
Seals rely on krill as a major part of their diet in icy waters.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Filter Feeder
Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Glowing
Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you ever see krill in the ocean, admire them from a distance and let them swim freely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Krill?
10-60 mm
How long does Krill live?
1825-2190 days
What does Krill eat?
Tiny ocean plants are a krill's main meal, which they filter from the water.
Where is Krill usually found?
Marine
How does Krill hunt?
Filter Feeding
How many legs does Krill have?
10
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