Shrimp, also known as Caridea and Dendrobranchiata, are decapod crustaceans with elongated bodies and a swimming style of movement. More specific classifications might be limited to Caridea, smaller species within each group, or exclusively marine species. Shrimp and prawn are stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long thin muscular tails (abdomens), long whiskers (antennae), and slender legs, according to a wider description.

Any tiny crustacean that resembles a shrimp is commonly referred to as a shrimp. They paddle forward using swimmerets on the bottom of their abdomens, but their escape response is usually repeated tail flicks that propel them backwards quite fast. Shrimp have tiny, delicate legs that they utilize largely for perching. Crabs and lobsters have powerful walking legs, but shrimp have weak, fragile legs.

They play a crucial part in the food chain and provide food for bigger creatures like as fish and whales. Humans can eat the muscular tails of many shrimp, and they are frequently captured and farmed for human food. Commercial shrimp species sustain a $50 billion-a-year economy, and overall commercial shrimp output was approximately 7 million tonnes in 2010. Shrimp farming grew more popular in the 1980s, notably in China, and by 2007, shrimp farm harvests had surpassed wild shrimp catch.

When shrimp are caught in the wild, there is a lot of bycatch, and when they are utilized to sustain shrimp farming, there is a lot of pollution in the estuaries. Many shrimp species are tiny, approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) long, however other shrimp can grow to be over 25 cm long (9.8 in). Larger shrimp are more likely to be commercially targeted and are commonly referred to as prawns, especially in the United Kingdom.

The following description focuses on the exterior anatomy of Crangon crangon, a common European shrimp that is a good example of a decapod shrimp. The head and thorax of the shrimp are fused together to form the cephalothorax, and the shrimp’s body is divided into two major parts: a long narrow abdomen and a head and thorax that are fused together to form the cephalothorax. The carapace is the shell that protects the cephalothorax and is tougher and thicker than the rest of the shrimp’s shell.

The carapace usually covers the gills, which are used to pump water through the mouthparts. The carapace also houses the rostrum, eyes, whiskers, and legs. The rostrum, which comes from the Latin rstrum, which means beak, is a beak or pointed snout that protrudes from the front of the shrimp’s head. It is a stiff front extension of the carapace that can be utilized for protection or assault. It may also help to keep the shrimp stable as it swims backwards.

Both sides of the rostrum have two bulbous eyes on stalks. These are compound eyes with panoramic vision and excellent movement detection. The head additionally has two sets of whiskers (antennae). One pair is extremely lengthy, up to twice the length of the shrimp, while the other is fairly short.

The shrimp’s antennae have sensors on them that allow them to sense where they touch and “smell” or “taste” things by sampling chemicals in the water. The shrimp’s large antennae aid in orienting itself in its immediate surroundings, while the small antennae aid in assessing the appropriateness of prey.

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