Shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans; major source of food for e.g. baleen whales. Shrimplike crustacean of the Antarctic.
Any of several Antarctic crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea, the most common species being Euphausia superba. Shrimplike, it is up to 5 cm/2 in long, with two antennae, five pairs of legs, seven pairs of light organs along the body, and is colored orange above and green beneath.
Moving in enormous swarms, krill constitute the chief food of the baleen whales, and have been used to produce a protein concentrate for human consumption, and meal for animal feed.