Ocean-bottom krill sex

• Published in: Journal of Plankton Research
• Main Authors: Kawaguchi, So, Kilpatrick, Robbie, Roberts, Lisa, King, Robert A., Nicol, Stephen
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2011
• Subjects: SHORT COMMUNICATIONS; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Euphausia superba
• Online Access: http://plankt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/33/7/1134; https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbr006

For the first time the entire sequence of the mating behaviour of Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) in the wild is captured on underwater video. This footage also provides evidence that mating can take place near the seafloor at depths of 400–700 m. This observation challenges the generally accepted concept of the pelagic lifestyle of krill. The mating behaviour observed most closely resembles the mating behaviour reported for a decapod shrimp ( Penaeus ). The implications of the new observation are also discussed.