Small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans that swim in massive swarms and serve as a crucial food source for many ocean animals including whales, seals, and fish. These tiny creatures are key players in marine food webs.
From Norwegian 'krill' meaning small fry or young fish, though krill are actually crustaceans, not fish. The term entered English in the early 1900s as Antarctic exploration increased scientific interest in these polar ocean creatures.
Krill are the ocean's power bars - these tiny crustaceans fuel some of the planet's largest animals! A single blue whale can eat up to 4 tons of krill per day, and Antarctic krill swarms can be so massive they're visible from space, covering areas larger than entire countries. Despite being only about 2 inches long, krill are among the most abundant animals on Earth by weight.
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