Dana, 1852
Generic diagnosis:
The eye is round, or nearly so, not constricted (eye shape).
Thoracic legs 1-6 are similarly developed in structure, none are conspicuously elongated. The sixth leg is similar in length to the fifth. The seventh and eighth legs are rudimentary, consisting of short unjointed setose processes (Euphausia- thoracic legs).
The petasma has no spine-shaped process; the terminal process has a heel-like lateral extension at its base (Euphausia-petasma).
The eggs of Euphausia are shed before hatching (life cycle-eggs freely spawned).