Euphausia

/juːˈfɔːziə/ noun

Definition

A genus of small shrimp-like marine crustaceans commonly called krill, found in oceans worldwide and a crucial food source for whales and other marine animals.

Etymology

From Greek 'eu' (well, good) + 'phasis' (appearance), literally 'good appearance,' named by naturalists for the creature's visible segmented body structure and luminescence.

Kelly Says

Euphausia are the ocean's most important animals that most people have never heard of—blue whales eat tons of them daily, making these tiny creatures arguably more important to global biomass than most vertebrates.

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