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Shrimp Facts & Worksheets

Shrimp are decapod crustaceans under the infraorder Caridea. They are characterized by their elongated bodies and primarily use swimming as their means of locomotion.

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Shrimp are decapod crustaceans under the infraorder Caridea. They are characterized by their elongated bodies and primarily use swimming as their means of locomotion. Together with prawns, shrimp are generally caught and farmed for human consumption, and they play a key role in shellfish fishery.

See the fact file below for more information on the shrimp or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Shrimp worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

TAXONOMY

  • Shrimp are swimming crustaceans with slender, muscular abdomens and long antennae. Unlike crabs and lobsters, shrimp possess well-developed pleopods, known as swimmerets, and long narrow walking legs. They prefer swimming to walking.
  • Historically, it was the difference between walking and swimming that established the primary taxonomic classification into the former suborders Natantia and Reptantia. Members of the first suborder were more inclined to swim, while the latter, which includes crabs and lobsters, were more fit for crawling or walking.
  • True shrimp make up the infraorder with the subphylum Crustacea, a group of arthropods that includes the familiar crabs, lobsters, barnacles, copepods, krill, water fleas, and crayfish.
  • Shrimp are members of the largest class of crustaceans, Malacostraca, which houses the largest and most familiar animals. This class is also often grouped into orders Decapoda, Amphipoda, and Isopoda, with the true shrimp falling under Decapoda. True shrimp are under the infraorder Caridea, within Decapoda and Malacostraca.

DESCRIPTION

  • Just like crayfish, crabs, and lobsters, shrimp have 19 body segments grouped into two main body parts – the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Each segment has one pair of appendages, though in some groups, these may be reduced or missing.
  • The body of the shrimp is compact from side to side, and the antennae and legs are slender.
  • There are generally eight pairs of thoracic appendages, which is a main feature of crustaceans. Decapods possess ten jointed legs, making up the last five of the eight pairs of appendages. The front three pairs act as mouthparts and are usually called maxillipeds, and the remaining pairs being pereiopods are the walking legs. In most decapods, however, one pair of legs grows enlarged pincers. The claws are known as chelae, and those legs are sometimes referred to as chelipeds.
  • Further appendages are located on the abdomen, with each segment able to carry a pair of biramous pleopods or swimming legs, the last of which make up the part of the tail fan, together with the telson, and are known as uropods.
  • Shrimp tend to own a semi-transparent exoskeleton that must undergo molting as the shrimp grows, just like the exoskeletons of other arthropods.

HABITAT

  • Shrimp are widespread and can be seen near the seafloor of the majority of coasts and estuaries, even in rivers and lakes. There are a number of species, and there are usually certain species that are well-adapted to any habitat.
  • Most shrimp species are marine, although one-fourth of them live in freshwaters.
  • Though fully aquatic, two of the species of Merguia are semi-terrestrial and live most of their lives on land in mangroves.

BEHAVIOR

  • A shrimp’s look and behavior varies in a number of ways. Even within the core group of the caridean shrimp, the small Pederson’s shrimp looks and acts differently compared to the large commercial pink shrimp or the snapping pistol shrimp.
  • The Caridea family of pistol shrimp are distinguished by their enlarged asymmetrical claws, the bigger of which tends to produce a louder snapping sound.
  • Groups of snapping shrimp are a primary source of noise in the ocean and can hinder sonar and underwater communication.
  • The small emperor shrimp possesses a symbiotic relationship with sea slugs and sea cucumbers and may keep them free from ectoparasites.
  • Most shrimp are omnivorous, but some are specially designed for different manners of feeding. Some are filter feeders, using their bristly legs to filter coarse and fine particles, while others scrape algae from rocks.
  • Cleaner shrimp prey on parasites and necrotic tissue of the reef fish they groom.
  • Some species of shrimp are notorious for cannibalism if their sources of food are not readily accessible.
  • Females of the freshwater shrimp Caridina ensifera can store sperm from a number of partners and can thus produce progeny with various paternities.

GASTRONOMY

  • Shrimp is among the most popular shellfish, labelled as “America’s favorite shellfish” by Herbst in 2001. Recipes using shrimp create part of the cuisine of different cultures, such as shrimp kebabs, creoles, gumbos, pan fried, deep fried, and stir fried. There are also shrimp recipes with added pineapple, potato, lemon, coconut, and pepper, shrimp soup, stew, salad, burger, sandwich, and fajitas.
  • Just like other seafood, shrimp is relatively high in calcium and protein but low in food energy. A shrimp-based diet is also a rich source of cholesterol, ranging from seven mg to 251 mg per 100 g of shrimp, which also depends on how it was prepared.
  • Dried shrimp is usually used as a flavoring and as a soup base in most Asian cuisines, while fried shrimp is a famous dish in North America. In Europe, shrimp is a necessary ingredient in Spanish paella de marisco, French bouillabaisse, Italian cacciucco, Portugese caldeirada, and other seafood cuisines.
  • They are sold to the market according to size, with general groups commonly including colossal, jumbo, extra large, large, medium, small, and miniature. Colossal and jumbo shrimp are typically referred to as prawns in the United States, despite being under a different taxa.
  • Shrimp and other shellfish are one of the most common food allergens.
  • Shrimp preparation for consumption involves getting rid of the shell, tail, and “sand vein”. To deshell a shrimp, the tail is held while slowly detaching the shell from the body. The tail can be removed completely or left attached for presentation purposes. Pulling out the “vein” can be referred to as “deveining”. Shrimp do not actually possess real veins, as that is just a euphemism for the digestive tract.

Shrimp Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the shrimp across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Shrimp worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the shrimp which are decapod crustaceans under the infraorder Caridea. They are characterized by their elongated bodies and primarily use swimming as their means of locomotion. Together with prawns, shrimp are generally caught and farmed for human consumption, and they play a key role in shellfish fishery.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Shrimp Facts
  • Hello Shrimp
  • Label a Shrimp
  • Digging Its Anatomy
  • Fill the Tank
  • More Shrimp Stuff
  • What’s On the Menu?
  • Shrimp and Prawns
  • Shrimp On the Market
  • Shrimp Wiki
  • Human Uses

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Link will appear as Shrimp Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 16, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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