Description of a Krill

Krill are small, shrimplike invertebrates that serve as integral part of water ecosystems because krill are the primary food source for many fish and marine mammals. According to National Geographic, without krill, most of the lifeforms in the Antarctic would cease to exist.

  1. Dimensions

    • Krill usually are 2 inches long and weigh about 1 gram. They have a lifespan of around five years in the wild and spend their lives living in a huge swarm can consist of as many as 30,000 krill per cubic meter.

    Appearance

    • Krill have translucent exteriors with reddish shells and large black eyes, according to KrillCount.org.

    Feeding habits

    • The major diet of krill constitutes of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plants that stay by the ocean's surface and live off carbon dioxide and the sun's rays.

    Similarities

    • Krill are invertebrates similar in appearance to shrimp and are herbivores.

    Fun Fact

    • According to the National Geographic website, the estimated weight of all the Antarctic krill is greater than the combined weight of all humans on Earth.