Knowra Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp are small-bodied decapod crustaceans with elongated bodies, long antennae, and a flexible abdomen. Many species live in marine or freshwater habitats, and numerous species are harvested for food.
Decapoda : An order of crustaceans characterized by five pairs of walking legs, including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. Shrimp belong to this order, whose name means “ten-footed.”
Crustacean gill : A respiratory organ that extracts dissolved oxygen from water in crustaceans. Shrimp breathe through gills protected beneath the carapace.
Shrimp farming : The commercial rearing of shrimp for food in ponds, tanks, or coastal systems. Farms supply a large share of shrimp sold for human consumption.
Prawn : A common name for certain large decapod crustaceans, especially in South Asia and Australia. Usage overlaps with “shrimp,” but the distinction varies by region and taxonomy.
Mangrove deforestation : The removal or degradation of mangrove forests through land conversion and other human activities. Shrimp pond expansion has contributed to mangrove loss in some regions.
Crustacea : A large group of arthropods that includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles. Their jointed limbs and hard exoskeleton place shrimp among crustaceans.
Molt : The shedding of an animal’s outer layer as part of growth or development. A shrimp’s body can enlarge only after its exoskeleton is shed.
Shrimp fishery : The capture of wild shrimp for commercial or subsistence use. Wild fisheries harvest shrimp from coastal and offshore waters.
Krill : Small marine crustaceans that form a major food source for whales, fish, and seabirds. Krill resemble small shrimp but belong to a different crustacean order.
Seafood traceability : Systems for tracking seafood through harvesting, processing, distribution, and sale. Traceability can help establish where farmed or wild shrimp originated.
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