krill

/krɪl/

/krɪl/

Krill are small crustaceans that resemble shrimp. Hundreds of marine animals rely on krill for food, making them a vital part of the ocean's ecosystem.

Krill may be most well-known as the preferred food of baleen whales, which filter the tiny creatures through mouthfuls of sea water. There are actually dozens and dozens of organisms that rely on krill to survive, from birds and fish to penguins, seals, and squid. Krill resemble shrimp, averaging about two inches long. Antarctic krill are one of the world's species with the largest biomass — almost 400 million tons. The Norwegian root, kril, means "small fry of fish."

Definitions of krill

1. noun

   shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans; major source of food for e.g. baleen whales
   types:

   Euphausia pacifica

   food for jellyfish

   type of:

   malacostracan crustacean

   a major subclass of crustaceans