A dense aggregation of small, shrimp-like krill that can extend for kilometers and contain many millions of individuals per cubic meter of water in the densest patches, a defensive and feeding behavior that concentrates krill species such as Antarctic krill into some of the largest animal biomass aggregations on Earth. These swarms form the base of the Southern Ocean food web, sustaining whales, seals, penguins and fish directly, and their scale is such that a single large swarm has been estimated to weigh more than the combined mass of the humans on the planet.
Facts
ScaleDensities sometimes reaching 10,000-30,000 animals per cubic metre; Antarctic krill cumulative biomass approximately 500 million metric tons 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceTransparent body about 6 cm long with a gut often shining green 1 Sources
1. Antarctic Krill (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationEcology, swarm density
sometimes reaching densities of 10,000-30,000 animals per cubic metre
Description section
The gut of E. superba can often be seen shining green through its transparent skin
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