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Ancestor: Meganyctiphanes norvegica (Northern Krill)

Size: Species typically are around 8-12cm. Largest species is up to 15 cm

Dietary Needs: They filter various plankton and phytoplankton from the water, including copepods and diatoms. Occasionally they may hunt small animals such as newly-hatched squid or fish.

Life Cycle: Reproduction is seasonal, with mating taking place in spring. Mating occurs as the male deposits a sperm sack next to the female's genital opening. From then, the females release the fertilized eggs into the water far and wide. There is no care or protection beyond this point. The eggs sink into deeper waters, below the photic zone. After hatching, the larvae must ascend to the photic zone once more before their yolk reserve runs out and they develop a mouth. Although they don't spawn in the shallows, they do spawn near nutrient-enriched coastlines where the sea turns a hint of green from algal growth, which the young krill grow and feed on until the seasonal changes force them to move on. They take about 2-3 years to mature.

Other: When travelling long-distance they use an evolution of the "lobstering" motion. It's a more gentle and energy-efficient version of the movement, but it still carries them many times their body length on a single tailbeat. They use this motion when crossing distances for where there is no safety or not enough food so they cannot slow down. They swim forward normally using their swimmerets when feeding or mingling.

While travelling backwards their first antennae point towards the direction of movement, to minimize the blind spot in that direction. Their eyes are also situated more out to the sides, so that they can see past the sides of their own body when looking backwards