Krill

Krill are small creatures that look like little shrimp. They swim in the oceans in huge groups called swarms. Krill are very important because many ocean animals eat them. Even the biggest animal on Earth, the blue whale, loves to eat krill.

What Krill Look Like

Most krill are about the size of a paper clip. They have clear bodies so you can sometimes see their insides. Krill have big black eyes and lots of tiny legs. Many krill can even glow in the dark, which is called bioluminescence. They are pink or red in color.

Krill and the Ocean

Krill are a big part of the ocean food chain. Fish, seals, penguins, and whales all eat krill. A blue whale can eat 8,000 pounds of krill in one day. Krill feed on tiny plants floating in the water. Without krill, many ocean animals would go hungry.

Fun Facts

• The biggest krill swarm ever seen was so large it could be seen from space.
• There are more krill in the ocean than almost any other animal on Earth.
• Krill live in every ocean, but most live near Antarctica.

Did You Know?

All the krill in the world's oceans weigh more than all the people on Earth put together.