Antarctica
Antarctic Krill
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Meet Antarctic krill — a tiny, shrimp-like animal that might be small, but is one of the most important creatures on the whole planet! Huge swarms of krill feed penguins, seals, and even giant whales.
Why is it special?
Antarctic krill are only about as long as a paperclip, but there are so many of them that their total weight may be greater than that of any other animal species on Earth.
They are the foundation of the entire Antarctic food web — almost every animal in the Southern Ocean depends on krill, directly or indirectly.
How does it live?
Krill swim in enormous swarms that can stretch for miles and contain millions, sometimes billions, of individuals.
They eat tiny floating plants called phytoplankton, and in turn become food for penguins, seals, fish, and whales.
Amazing facts
A single swarm of krill can be so big it turns the ocean a reddish color, visible even from space!
Krill can actually glow in the dark using tiny light-producing organs on their bodies.
Quick facts
- A single swarm of krill can be so big it turns the ocean a reddish color, visible even from space!
- Krill can actually glow in the dark using tiny light-producing organs on their bodies.
- Blue whales, the largest animals to ever live, can eat up to 8,000 pounds of krill every single day.
- Krill can live for several years and can even shrink their own bodies to survive when food is scarce.