This creation of nature has a rather unusual appearance. Shrimp is an inhabitant of the water world, and it’s fun to follow their behavior, diving in a mask, for example, in tropical waters. If you move the lush seaweed, these crustaceans begin to jump out like grasshoppers.
Shrimp Definition
This animal is optimally adapted to living conditions in the deep sea, which undoubtedly affected its structure. Who is the shrimp? Crustacean from the order of decapod crayfish (there are a total of 250 genera and about 2,000 species). Caridea (these inhabitants of the seas and oceans are called scientifically) are ubiquitous in the oceans and seas, are found even in some fresh water bodies, the most diverse species are represented in tropical waters. They are found in abundance in the Black and Azov Sea. To the question "Is shrimp an animal or not?" - the answer is definitely positive, since all arthropods are representatives of the animal kingdom.
Structure
The elongated body is slightly flattened on the sides. It is divided into two main segments: abdomen, cephalothorax. The second section is half the entire body. At the beginning of the shell of the cephalothorax there is a pair of eyes that are in special recesses. The cephalothorax protects the chitinous shell, hard and durable, formed from 2 plates and attached to the gills. But the lower part of the shell is soft. The sizes of various species range from 2 to 30 centimeters.
Organs of vision
Shrimp is an unusual animal that has different vision: day and night. Each of her eyes consists of a huge number of facets, and with age their number becomes more and more. Facet segments are separated by age spots. And each element perceives those rays that fall perpendicular to the cornea. Such vision can be called mosaic. It is characteristic that at night the pigments diverge at the base of the eyes, and oblique rays can reach the retina: the shrimp sees objects completely, but their outlines are blurred.
Shrimp is a decapod crustacean
Despite the fact that these marine inhabitants are included in the order of the decapods, in fact they have as many as nineteen pairs of limbs. And each is responsible for a specific action. Antennae, for example, are used for touch, and thin and long legs, at the end of which there are small claws, perform a special task - with their help the animal cleans its body and gills if it clogs. Other legs are used to move along the bottom; they are larger and longer than the rest. And the extremities of the abdomen are used when the crustacean has to swim. At the end of the body is a wide, strong fin. He bends sharply, giving the opportunity to move in jerks. When the shrimp stops and sits, for example, on algae, it leads in all directions with its long antennas.
What do they eat
Shrimp is an omnivore. The menu of these water inhabitants consists of plankton, as well as algae, even soil. Usually, a huge number of shrimps of some species are located near fishing nets: they eat fish so quickly that if they do not get the gear in time, fishermen can get only bare skeletons.
Shrimp find their food using the organs of smell and touch. With the loss of antennas or eyes, this time can increase significantly. In this case, the animal uses the fingers of walking legs and the bristles of the appendages of the mouth - they are highly sensitive.
Breeding
Shrimp are bisexual, but the male and female corresponding glands form at different times. At the onset of puberty, the individual first becomes a male, and in the third year of its life it is transformed into the opposite, female sex. Females glue eggs on the hairs of the abdominal legs, and then bear the offspring (literally - carry it with them) until hatched larvae appear from the eggs.
Delicacies
And these animals are traditionally eaten. Recipes of culinary dishes, including these seafood as ingredients, are popular among different peoples, mainly living on the coasts. Like many other seafood, these crustaceans are rich in protein and calcium, including few calories. Shrimp dishes are a good source of “right” cholesterol and, as food, are undoubtedly a tasty and healthy delicacy.