Antarctic krill

E15262

crustacean krill species

Antarctic krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that form massive swarms and serve as a keystone species at the base of the Antarctic marine food web.

Aliases (3)

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	crustacean → krill → species →
bioluminescent	true →
bodyLength	about 6 centimeters →
bodyMass	about 1 gram →
class	Malacostraca →
color	pink → translucent →
commercialUse	krill fishery →
commonName	Antarctic euphausiid → Antarctic krill →
conservationConcern	impacts of climate change → sea ice loss →
describedBy	Dana →
diet	phytoplankton → zooplankton →
ecologicalRole	keystone species →
family	Euphausiidae →
feedingMode	filter feeder →
formsSwarms	true →
genus	Euphausia →
geographicDistribution	circumpolar around Antarctica →
habitat	Antarctic waters → Southern Ocean →
importance	foundation of Antarctic marine food web →
kingdom	Animalia →
larvalDevelopment	multiple pelagic larval stages →
lifeSpan	up to 5–7 years →
order	Euphausiacea →
overwintersUnderSeaIce	true →
phylum	Arthropoda →
preyOf	baleen whales → fish → penguins → seabirds → seals →
regulatedBy	Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources →
reproduction	sexual reproduction →
scientificName	Euphausia superba →
spawningLocation	open ocean →
subphylum	Crustacea →
swarmDensity	up to 30000 individuals per cubic meter →
taxonRank	species →
trophicLevel	primary consumer →
usedFor	aquaculture feed → omega-3 supplements →
usesSeaIceForFeeding	true →
yearDescribed	1850 →

Referenced by (9)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
South Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean → Southern Ocean →	supportsSpecies
Dana →	authorityForTaxon
Antarctic krill ("Euphausiidae") →	family
Antarctic krill ("Euphausia") →	genus
Euphausiacea ("Euphausia superba") →	includes
Weddell Sea →	inhabitedBy
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area →	protects
Antarctic krill ("Euphausia superba") →	scientificName