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Antarctic Krill
Antarctic Krill
General information
Universe Real Life
Classification Euphausia superba
Species type Krill
Homeworld Earth
Environment Southern Ocean
Intelligence Non-sapient
Biochemistry Carbon-based lifeform
Discovered 1850
Discoverer James Dwight Dana
Biological information
Lifespan ~6 years
Reproduction Sexual; lays eggs
Average weight 2 grams (0.071 oz)
Average length 6 cm (2.4")
Locomotion Oscillating legs
Feeding behavior Carnivore
Prey Phytoplankton
Predators Albatrosses, Baleen Whales, Fur Seals, Icefish, Penguins, Seals, Squid; Crabeater Seal, Leopard Seal, Modern Human
Distinctive features Likely most abundant animal on Earth in terms of biomass
Eye color Black
Skin color Transparent
Lineage information
Cultural information
Alignment True Neutral
Organization Swarms
Sociocultral characteristics
Scientific taxonomy
Planet Earth
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Eumetazoa
Infrakingdom Bilateria (Animals with bilateral symmetry)
Superphylum Ecdysozoa (Animals that molt via ecdysis)
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca (Modern Malacostracans)
Superorder Eucarida (Decapods, Krill, and relatives)
Order Euphausiacea (Krill)
Family Euphausiidae
Genus Euphausia
Species superba
Other information
Status Least concern
First sighting 1850
Possible population ~300 - 400 trillion

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a species of krill found in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. It is a small, swimming crustacean that lives in large schools, called swarms, sometimes reaching densities of 10,000–30,000 individual animals per cubic metre. It feeds directly on minute phytoplankton, thereby using the primary production energy that the phytoplankton originally derived from the sun in order to sustain their pelagic (open ocean) life cycle. It grows to a length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in), weighs up to 2 grams (0.071 oz), and can live for up to six years. It is a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and is, in terms of biomass, probably the most abundant animal species on the planet (approximately 500 million tonnes)

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