Euphausia eximia

Taxon-Order: 
Euphausiacea

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Distribution: 
Pacific Ocean; California Current, Humboldt Current and the Gulf of California.
Habitat: 
It is a strong vertical migrator, 0-300m. At night it occurs close to the surface.
Size: 
15-28 mm
Diet: 
Microplankton.
Predators: 
Important prey for fish, birds and whales.
Useful Facts or Characters: 

Large round eyes, long sharply pointed rostrum, lappet with comb-like leaflet, and no spine on abdominal segment.

Natural History: 

More abundant in this area during warmer years. Two forms of this species have been reported based on distinct larval morphology: a northern form, above the equator and a southern form, below the equator.

References: 

http://www.calcofi.org/publications/atlases/CalCOFI_Atlas_24.pdf

Brinton, E. (1962) The distribution of Pacific euphausiids. Bulletin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography 8: 51-270.

Knight, M. (1980) Larval development of Euphausia eximia (Crustacea: Euphausiacea) with notes on its vertical distribution and morphological divergence between populations. Fishery Bulletin of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 78: 313-335.