Shrimp Anatomy

Shrimp

Shrimp are swimming crustaceans with ten legs.  They are in the same Order as crabs but are in different Families, Genera and Species.

The table below shows the differences and similarities between the daggerblade grass shrimp and the blue crab.

The science of classifying organisms is called Taxonomy

Shrimp (like crabs) are decapods characterized by 10 (5 pair) legs.

They have a thin, smooth, hard exoskeleton.

Like all crustaceans, shrimp have three distinct body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen

The common shrimp is broken down into 8 major parts:

• the "carapace" or head - (the "rostrum" protrudes from the front, top, center)

• 6 abdominal segments (the first just behind the carapace and the sixth in front of the tail)

• The "telson" or tail

The eyes are located on either side of the rostrum

The mouth is located on the bottom front between the two "Antennae", just before the 5 pairs of walking legs.

The carapace is the part of the exoskeleton that protects and supports the head and thorax.  The rostrum or horn is an extension of the carapace.  Presumably, it provides stability while swimming.

 Shrimp have 5 pairs of jointed legs on the thorax, 3 pair are used for walking and 2 pair have claws and are used for feeding (some species have 2 for walking and 3 for feeding).

 On the abdomen, 5 pairs of appendages (swimmerets) are used for swimming and carrying eggs and the tail (telson) is also used when swimming.

The body, legs, swimmerets, and other appendages are segmented. Shrimp have two pairs of segmented sensory antennae and compound eyes.