| The small, shrimplike crustacean, Euphausia superba, is among the most important elements of the ocean food chain. Millions of individuals gather in the shallow seas that surround Antarctica. About 85 similar species are known collectively as krill and are the main food of many Antarctic animals, including whales, seals, fishes, and birds. Immature krill, called larvae, consume ocean debris and drift as plankton with the currents. Adults, such as the one pictured here, may reach lengths of 7 centimeters (2.8 inches). Light-producing organs on krill give off a blue-green glow that illuminates the water at night. |
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