The Scent of Penguin Poo Causes Krill to Zigzag Away

Learn more about how the smell of penguin poo causes krill to stop eating and move frantically.

By Monica Cull
Mar 20, 2025 8:40 PMMar 20, 2025 8:37 PM
Antarctic krill
Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba). (Image Credit: Nicole Hellessey)

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If you’ve walked past the penguin exhibit at the zoo, then you’ve likely caught a whiff of their unpleasant-smelling poo. The smell has perhaps made you want to cover your nose and, despite a penguin’s cuteness, want to walk away. 

Humans aren’t the only ones repelled by penguin poo, however. To krill, tiny shrimp-like creatures, the smell of penguin poo triggers evasive maneuvers, probably because they know that penguins are on their way to eat them. After putting it to the test, a research team has determined that a chemical within the poo causes krill to act erratically, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Marine Science.

Krill and their Scent Triggers

Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) (Image Credit: Nicole Hellessey)
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