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Shrimp (decapod crustaceans)

Marine invertebrateCrustaceanDecapod

Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) on a reef.

Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis).

Image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

“Shrimp” is a common name for a large number of small, slender crustaceans found in oceans and fresh water around the world. They are decapods — the same broad group as crabs and lobsters — with a segmented body, a hard but flexible exoskeleton, long antennae, and many legs adapted for walking and swimming. The reference animal shown here is the Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis).

Shrimp range from tiny, transparent species to colourful reef specialists, and they are a hugely important link in aquatic food webs as well as a major human food.

Note: “shrimp” (and “prawn”) covers many different families, so general statements vary by species. Treat details as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Shrimp live almost everywhere there is water — coral reefs, rocky shores, estuaries, sandy and muddy seabeds, the open ocean, the deep sea, and rivers, lakes, and ponds. Different species are adapted to very different depths, temperatures, and salinities.

Diet

Most shrimp are omnivores or scavengers, feeding on tiny plants and animals, detritus, and decaying matter, which makes them important recyclers. Some are specialists: cleaner shrimp, for example, set up “cleaning stations” and remove parasites and dead tissue from fish that visit them.

Behavior

Shrimp swim with rapid flicks of their abdomen and tail fan, and walk on slender legs. Many are most active at night. Behaviours vary widely: some live alone, others in groups; some form partnerships, such as snapping shrimp that share burrows with gobies, or cleaner shrimp that advertise their services to fish. Like other crustaceans, shrimp must moult their exoskeleton to grow.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Shrimp are one of the most important seafoods in the world, harvested from the wild and widely farmed. They are also popular in home aquariums. Wild shrimp populations and the habitats they depend on can be affected by overfishing, trawling, and pollution. Consult authoritative sources for specific species.

More photos of the shrimp

Cleaner shrimp showing its long white antennae and striped back.

Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis).

Image: Lonnie Huffman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Shrimp

What is the difference between a shrimp and a prawn?
The words are used loosely and often interchangeably. In everyday use "prawn" sometimes means a larger shrimp, but the two names don't map neatly onto biology — true shrimp and true prawns differ in some technical body features, yet both are decapod crustaceans, and usage varies by region.
What is a cleaner shrimp?
Cleaner shrimp are species that remove parasites, dead skin, and debris from fish. They set up "cleaning stations" on the reef and advertise with their bright colours and waving antennae; fish visit and allow the shrimp to clean them, even inside the mouth — a benefit to both.
What do shrimp eat?
Most shrimp are omnivores and scavengers, eating algae, tiny animals, and decaying matter, which helps recycle nutrients. Some are specialists, such as cleaner shrimp that feed on parasites and dead tissue from fish.
Are shrimp related to crabs and lobsters?
Yes. Shrimp are decapod crustaceans, the same broad group that includes crabs, lobsters, and crayfish. They share features like a hard exoskeleton, jointed legs, and a need to moult in order to grow.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.