Euphausiacea

E92156

Euphausiacea is an order of small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans known as krill, which form massive swarms and play a crucial role as primary consumers in ocean food webs.


Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf order of crustaceans
taxon
antennae well-developed
bioluminescenceFunction camouflage
communication
schooling coordination
bodyPlan elongated
class Malacostraca
commonName krill
describedAs small shrimp-like marine crustaceans
development multiple larval stages
diet microzooplankton
phytoplankton
distribution worldwide oceans
ecologicalRole key component of marine food webs
feedingMode filter feeding
suspension feeding
forms massive swarms
habitat marine
pelagic zone
hasFeature bioluminescent organs
large compound eyes
importance important in biogeochemical cycles
major food source for higher trophic levels
includes Euphausia pacifica
Antarctic krill
surface form: "Euphausia superba"

Meganyctiphanes norvegica
kingdom Animalia
locomotion swimming with pleopods
phylum Arthropoda
preyedUponBy baleen whales
fish
penguins
seals
squid
reproduction external fertilization
roleInCarbonCycle biological carbon pump
sizeRange about 1 to 6 centimeters in length
subphylum Crustacea
superorder Eucarida
swarmBehavior schooling
systematics described by James Dwight Dana
trophicLevel herbivores
trophicRole primary consumers
verticalMigration diel vertical migration
yearDescribed 1852

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Malacostraca hasOrder Euphausiacea
Antarctic krill order Euphausiacea
Dana taxonGroup Euphausiacea