1. Small shrimp-like marine crustaceans of the order Euphausiaceae, typically found in large swarms in ocean waters and serving as a major food source for whales, fish, and seabirds.
Usage: plural form; singular is euphausiid; also called krill; scientific/technical term

Examples

• Euphausiids form the foundation of many marine food webs in polar and temperate oceans.
• Baleen whales filter enormous quantities of euphausiids from the water each day.
• The abundance of euphausiids in Antarctic waters supports a rich ecosystem of marine life.
• Scientists study euphausiids to understand ocean productivity and climate change impacts.
• Euphausiids are bioluminescent and produce light displays in deep ocean waters at night.