shrimp cocktail

The shrimp, along with the other related crustaceans, have been a major food source not only for people but also for other water animals.

Unlike other crustacean – lobster, crab, etc. – which crawl on the bottom of the sea, the shrimp is a free-swimming crustacean with 5 pairs (10) jointed legs.

The Jewish people do not eat shrimp.

In Britain very small ones (just about 1 cm) are called ‘shrimp’ and larger ones are called “prawns”; in the States, however, the shrimp and prawn varieties are all called ‘shrimp’!

a fairy shrimp

These days shrimps are harvested (grown) on huge farms.

Some species of shrimps are kept in fish tanks as pets!

The ‘fairy shrimp’ is a small one measuring only 0.4-1 inch in length, and swims upside down!!

The ‘pistol’ shrimp is an amazing shrimp.  This small shrimp has two front claws of different sizes, one much larger than the other, and by snapping the larger claw, it produces a loud sound, like that of a pistol shot, which sends out a bubble of water, with which stuns or even kills its prey, mostly other kinds of shrimps!!

[There are some sea animals that look-like and are called ‘shrimp’ but do not belong to the “true shrimp”, e.g. ‘mantis shrimp’ and ‘brine shrimp’.]