Krill Facts for Kids: 10 Fun Tiny Ocean Crustacean Facts

Fun Facts for Kids

Krill Facts for Kids

Krill are tiny shrimplike crustaceans that live in the ocean, often in huge groups. They may be small, but they are one of the most important foods for whales, seals, penguins, fish, squid, and many other marine animals.

Topic Krill Type Animals Age Ages 7–12 Level Easy

Quick Krill Facts

  • Animal Type: Marine crustacean
  • Group: Krill order Euphausiacea
  • Known For: Huge swarms, shrimplike bodies, open-ocean life, feeding on phytoplankton, whale food, larvae, and glowing organs in some species
  • Habitat: Open ocean, cold seas, Antarctic waters, coastal waters, deep water by day, surface waters by night, and pelagic marine habitats depending on species
  • Diet: Phytoplankton, algae, tiny plankton, detritus, and small organic particles filtered from seawater
Finding this animal’s branch…

What You’ll Learn

Learn 10 sticky barnacle facts for kids about hard shells, filter feeding, attaching to surfaces, tides, and ocean life, with a quiz, glossary, and activity

These simple facts are written for kids, parents, teachers, and curious young minds.

Fact Safari

10 Fun Krill Facts for Kids

1. Krill Are Animals

Krill are marine crustaceans, which means they are ocean animals related to shrimp and crabs.

Kid Decode: A krill is a tiny ocean snack with a giant job.

2. Krill Are Not True Shrimp

Krill look like shrimp, but they belong to a different crustacean group called Euphausiacea.

Kid Decode: They are shrimp-shaped, but not shrimp on the family paperwork.

3. Baby Krill Are Larvae

Krill hatch as larvae and pass through several young stages as they grow.

Kid Decode: A krill larva is a tiny drifting speck in the open sea.

4. Krill Can Form Huge Swarms

Many krill gather in large groups called swarms.

Kid Decode: A krill swarm can turn the ocean into a moving glitter cloud.

5. Krill Eat Phytoplankton

Krill feed on tiny plantlike plankton called phytoplankton and other small particles.

Kid Decode: They munch on the ocean’s microscopic salad.

6. Krill Feed Big Animals

Blue whales, penguins, seals, fish, squid, and seabirds may eat krill.

Kid Decode: Krill are the little lunch that supports enormous ocean neighbors.

7. Krill Live in the Open Ocean

Krill are pelagic animals, meaning they live in open water rather than on the seafloor.

Kid Decode: Their neighborhood is water, water, and more water.

8. Krill Have Gills on Swimming Legs

Krill have gills connected with their swimming legs, which helps separate them from true shrimp.

Kid Decode: Their breathing gear is parked near their paddling gear.

9. Some Krill Can Glow

Some krill have light-producing organs called photophores.

Kid Decode: That gives the tiny crustacean a little deep-sea sparkle trick.

10. Krill Help Ocean Food Webs

Krill connect tiny plankton to large predators, making them key animals in marine food webs.

Kid Decode: They are small links holding up a huge blue chain.

The Weirdest Krill Fact

Krill are tiny, but huge whales can depend on swarms of them for food.

Creative Corner

Try This Krill Activity

Krill Drawing Activity

Draw a krill swarm in the open ocean. Add tiny shrimplike bodies, larvae, phytoplankton dots, a whale above, penguins and fish nearby, glowing photophore dots, blue water layers, and arrows showing krill moving through the food web.

Quick Krill Quiz

  1. What animal group are krill in? Answer: Marine crustaceans.
  2. What are baby krill called? Answer: Larvae.
  3. What tiny plantlike plankton do krill eat? Answer: Phytoplankton.
  4. What is a large group of krill called? Answer: A swarm.
  5. What huge ocean animals famously eat krill? Answer: Baleen whales, including blue whales.

Mini Glossary

  • Marine Crustacean: An ocean animal in the same big group as crabs, shrimp, and lobsters.
  • Larva: A young stage that looks different from the adult.
  • Phytoplankton: Tiny plantlike organisms that drift in water.
  • Pelagic: Living in open water away from the seafloor.
  • Swarm: A large moving group of small animals.
Animal Comparisons

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Antarctic Krill in the Krill vs Shrimp comparison Northern Shrimp in the Krill vs Shrimp comparison Euphausiid vs Decapod Crustacean Comparison Krill vs Shrimp Compare Compare krill and shrimp for kids, including size, body parts, gills, food, swarms, swimming, eggs, moulting, glowing organs, and sex change. See the comparison →
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Fact check note: Fact checked with Britannica krill resources, Britannica Kids krill resources, Britannica plankton resources, and trusted marine crustacean education references.