Krill

Tiny Sea Friends: Krill

Krill are tiny sea creatures that belong to a group called crustaceans. They live in all the world's oceans. These little friends are very small, but they are very important for the ocean.

Krill eat tiny plants and animals in the water, called phytoplankton and zooplankton. Many larger sea animals, like whales, seals, penguins, and fish, depend on krill for food. Without krill, many ocean animals would not have enough to eat.

One special kind of krill lives in the Southern Ocean, called Antarctic krill. This krill is very important for animals like whales and penguins. It gives them the food they need to grow and stay healthy.

People also use krill in different ways. They are used to feed farm animals and fish in tanks. Krill are also used in medicines. In some countries, people eat krill as food. In Japan, they are called okiami, and in Spain and the Philippines, they are known as camarones or alamang.

Krill are a big part of the ocean's life. They help keep the ocean healthy by being food for many animals and by cleaning the water. Next time you see a picture of a whale or a penguin, remember that krill are their tiny but very important friends!