Shrimp habitat. Prawns king, tiger and Atlantic. Pictured is a grassy shrimp

Commercial shrimp or chilim or shrimp, unlike their counterparts - other decapod crayfish, have adapted to life in the water column. This affected the structure of the shrimp.

The shrimp has an elongated body, while it is flattened laterally. The body is divided into 2 main sections - the abdomen and the cephalothorax, which is almost half the length of the body.

At the beginning of the cephalothoracic shell there is a pair of compound eyes located in special recesses.

Each eye is formed from a large number of facets, while their number increases with age. Facets separate pigment spots from each other. Each facet perceives only those rays that fall perpendicular to the cornea. Some facets see only a small part of the object that the shrimp is looking at, while other parts see other facets. That is, shrimp have mosaic vision. At night, the pigments diverge to the bases of the eyes, due to which oblique rays reach the retina, and the shrimp begins to see objects completely, but they are blurry.


The cephalothorax is protected by a strong chitinous shell, which is formed from two plates and attached to the gills. The lower part of the chitinous shell is soft and thin.

Shrimps have 19 pairs of limbs, and they are all responsible for certain actions. The antennae are used as organs of touch, with the help of the mandibles, the shrimp crushes the prey, and it holds it with its jaws. Thin long legs, at the end of which small claws are located, play a special role - with the help of them, shrimp clean their body, they also introduce these legs into the cavity of toads and clean them if they are clogged. The remaining legs are used for movement on the ground, they are longer and thicker in size than the rest of the legs. The limbs of the abdomen are used during swimming.


It is interesting to follow the behavior of shrimp while snorkeling in warm waters Sea of ​​Japan. If you move the lush algae, then the shrimps begin to jump out of them, like grasshoppers in a meadow.

It has a wide and strong tail fin. Shrims sharply bends it and moves in jerks. When the shrimp stops, it spreads its small oar legs under its tail and begins to quickly sort through them, swimming among the algae. At the same time, the pectoral legs and antennae are pressed to the body. When the shrimp sits on the algae and freezes, it leads along the sides with long antennae.

Chilims have orange legs. The eyes are purple. When the sun's rays pass through the body of a shrimp, it shines through and gives off an emerald tint. The length of the chilim reaches 18 centimeters. Along the body are dark stripes that serve to camouflage the shrimp among marine plants. Only when you get close you can see the shrimp.


Shrimps are a delicious delicacy.

If you lure a shrimp with a piece of meat or fish, then they gather in small groups near the prey. At the slightest movement, they jump off to the sides with jumps, while swimming backwards, sharply bending the abdomen and pushing off the water with their caudal fin and ventral legs.

What do shrimp eat?

The diet of shrimp consists not only of animal food (plankton), but also of algae and soil. A large number of shrimp accumulate near fishing nets, while they eat the fish so quickly that if the fishermen do not get the net in time, they will be left with only naked skeletons.

They find food using the organs of touch and smell. If the shrimp loses its eyes, then it can find prey in 4-5 minutes, and if the first pair of antennae is lost, this time increases to 20 minutes, if both pairs of antennae are lost, the shrimp search for prey even longer, while they use the toes of walking legs and bristles of the oral appendages, characterized by high sensitivity.


Far Eastern shrimps

Shrimps are bisexual organisms, but the female and male gonads are formed in them at different times. When puberty occurs, the shrimp first turns into a male, and in the third year of life, it transforms into a female. Females glue the eggs to the hairs of the ventral legs and carry them with them until the larvae emerge from them.

Palemon shrimp

Shrimps are an object of fishing in the seas of the Pacific Ocean, in the Atlantic and northern seas. These are the most sought-after commercial creatures; up to a million tons of shrimp are caught annually.

Shrimps are crustaceans, which are representatives of the squad of decapod crayfish. They are widely distributed throughout the world's oceans. The length of an adult shrimp does not exceed 30 centimeters with a weight of 20 grams.

Science knows more than 2000 individuals living, including in fresh waters. The taste qualities of shrimp led to the fact that they became an object of industrial production. Today, the practice of cultivating shrimp is widespread in the world.

Shrimp Features and Habitat

Shrimp are unique animals in terms of the structure of the body. Shrimp Features are in their anatomy. Shrimps are one of the rare crustaceans that shed and change their shells.

Her genitals and heart are located in the head area. There are also digestive and urinary organs. Like most crustaceans, shrimp breathes with gills.

The gills of the shrimp are protected by a shell and are located next to the walking legs. IN normal condition their blood has a light blue color, with a lack of oxygen, it becomes discolored.

shrimps inhabit in almost all major water bodies of the world. Their range is limited only to the harsh Arctic and Antarctic waters. They have adapted to life in warm and cold, salt and fresh water. The largest number of shrimp species is concentrated in the equatorial regions. The farther from the equator, the smaller their population.

The nature and lifestyle of the shrimp

Shrimps play important role in the ecosystem of the seas and oceans. They clean the bottom of reservoirs from the remains of tubifex, aquatic insects and fish. Their diet consists of rotting plants and detritus, the black ooze formed from decaying fish and algae.

They lead an active lifestyle: they surf the bottom in search of food, crawl along the leaves of plants, clearing them of snail leeches. Shrimp maneuverability in the water is provided by walking legs on the cephalothorax and abdominal swimming legs, and the movements of the caudal stalks allow you to quickly jump back and scare off your enemies.

aquarium shrimp perform the functions of a nurse. They rid the reservoir of fouling with lower algae and feed on the remains of the dead "brothers". Sometimes they may attack sick or sleeping fish. Cannibalism among these crustaceans is rare. Usually it manifests itself only in stressful situations or in conditions of prolonged hunger.

types of shrimp

All famous sciences Shrimp species are divided into four groups:

  • Warm water;
  • Cold water;
  • Saltwater;
  • Freshwater.

The habitat of warm-water shrimp is limited south seas and oceans. They are caught not only in natural environment habitats, but also cultivated in artificial conditions. More than a hundred species of warm-water shrimp are known to science. Examples of such mollusks are black tiger and white tiger shrimp.

Pictured is a white tiger shrimp

Cold water shrimp are the most common known subspecies. Their habitat is wide: they are found in the Baltic, Barents, North Seas, off the coast of Greenland and Canada.

At shrimp description such individuals it is worth mentioning that their length is 10-12 cm, and their weight is 5.5-12 grams. Cold-water shrimp are not amenable to artificial reproduction and develop only in their natural habitat.

They feed exclusively on environmentally friendly plankton, which has a positive effect on their quality. The most famous representatives of this subspecies are the northern red shrimp, northern chillim and red comb shrimp.

Pictured is a chilim shrimp

Shrimp, common in salty waters seas and oceans are called salt water. Yes, in Atlantic Ocean red dwell king prawns, northern white, southern pink, northern pink, serrated and other individuals.

Pictured are prawns

Chilean shrimp can be found on South American coasts. The waters of the Black, Baltic and mediterranean seas rich in grassy and sandy shrimp.

Pictured is a grassy shrimp

Freshwater shrimp mainly live in the countries of Southeast and South Asia, Australia, Russia and the post-Soviet countries. The length of such individuals is 10-15 centimeters with a weight of 11 to 18 grams. Most known species- Troglocar shrimp, Palaemon superbus, Macrobachium rosenbergii.

Shrimp nutrition

basis shrimp nutrition make up the dying aquatic plants and organic remains. In their natural habitat, they are scavengers. Shrimp will not refuse the pleasure of eating the remains of the dead or even young fish.

Among plants, they prefer to eat those that have fleshy and succulent leaves, for example, ceratopteris. In the process of searching for food, shrimp use the organs of touch and smell. Turning its antennas in different directions, it looks around the area and tries to find prey.

In search of vegetation, certain species of shrimp, living closer to the equator, dig up the soil of the reservoir. They run around its perimeter until they run into food, and then, approaching it at a distance of a centimeter, they sharply attack it. Blind individuals living at the bottom of the Black Sea feed on silt, grinding it with mandibles - well-developed jaws.

For shrimp grown in an aquarium, specially designed compound feeds enriched with nutrients and iodine are produced. It is not recommended to feed them with perishable vegetables.

As food, you can use slightly boiled carrots, cucumber, zucchini, dandelion leaves, clover, cherries, chestnuts, walnut. A real feast for shrimp is the remains of an aquarium or brethren.

Reproduction and lifespan of shrimp

During puberty, the female shrimp begins the process of forming eggs, resembling a green-yellow mass. When the female is ready to mate, she releases pheromones into the water - substances that have a specific smell.

Having smelled this smell, the males are activated in search of a partner and fertilize her. This process takes less than a minute. Then the shrimp has caviar. The norm for an adult female is laying 20-30 eggs. Embryonic development of larvae lasts from 10 to 30 days depending on temperature. environment.

In the process of embryogenesis, the larvae go through 9-12 stages. At this time, changes occur in their structure: at the beginning, the jaws are formed, a little later - the cephalothorax. Most of the hatched larvae die due to adverse conditions or the “work” of predators. As a rule, 5-10% of the brood reach maturity. At shrimp farming in the aquarium it is possible to save up to 30% of the offspring.

The larvae lead a sedentary lifestyle and are not able to get food by feeding on the food that they get. Last stage development in these mollusks is called decapodite. During this period, the larva leads a lifestyle no different from an adult shrimp. Average, life cycle shrimp lasts from 1.5 to 6 years.

Shrimps(from lat. caridea) belong to the infraorder Crustacea, a type of arthropod. They are common in the seas of almost the whole world, and some species of shrimp live in freshwater reservoirs. By size different types shrimp are different. So, an adult can be only 2 cm in length, and can reach 30 cm.

Shrimps are low-calorie: 100 g contains only 94.5 kcal. However, they are highly nutritious due to their high protein content. Their composition is so rich and varied that in order to preserve wellness and cheerfulness is enough to eat only a handful of this seafood.

Origin

As mentioned above, shrimp are freshwater and marine, but in their origin they all come from the oceans. Most shrimp live in equatorial zone, which gives reason to assume that this is their true homeland. The farther from the equator in both directions, the fewer species shrimp and other crustaceans.

Shrimps are heterosexual creatures: females are larger, they have a wide tail and convex sides. Upon reaching sexual maturity, eggs appear under the tail of the female, the smell of their pheromones attracts males, who fertilize these eggs. After 4-6 weeks, larvae are born, which, before turning into an adult, have to go through about 12 more age stages.

The nutritional value

Shrimps are considered one of the most useful products nutrition. The concentration of vitamins and microelements in shrimp is 50 (!) times higher than in meat, and their composition is truly diverse.

So, shrimp have a lot of potassium, calcium, zinc, iodine, sulfur, phosphorus, as well as Omega-3 polyunsaturated acid. This seafood is also rich in vitamins: E, C, PP, A, H, vitamins of group B. By the way, a large number of vitamin B12, contained in shrimp, promotes the production of hemoglobin and nourishes nervous system. In addition, the use of shrimp is very important for weight loss: the product contains practically no sugar and fat, but at the same time it perfectly satisfies hunger due to its high protein content.

Application in cooking

Most often, shrimp are added to salads, soups, pastas and risotto, and this seafood is also part of some sauces. King and tiger prawns are sometimes served on the table as independent dishes: for example, in the form of skewers or simply fried in a pan. As a rule, such shrimp are not eaten boiled: their meat becomes “rubber” and almost tasteless.

Small shrimp, on the contrary, are delicious boiled. They are cooked in boiling salted water with the addition of dill, parsley, cumin, bay leaf or pepper until the shrimp float to the surface of the water (about 3-5 minutes). To make the shrimp more juicy and tasty, you can leave them for 10-15 minutes in the broth after cooking.

Application in medicine and cosmetology

Due to the content of a large number of minerals, trace elements and nutrients shrimp help the human body to grow and develop properly and fully. If you eat this product regularly, the likelihood of colds and respiratory diseases decreases, immunity increases, and the risk of allergies decreases. In addition, the use of shrimp is indicated for people with cancer.

Contraindications

Shrimps are considered such a safe product that they have practically no contraindications. This healthy seafood can be given even to children. However, do not forget about such a phenomenon as an allergy to seafood. Unfortunately, shrimp in this case is also not worth eating.

Interesting Facts
It is important to be able to choose the right shrimp. In doing so, it is necessary first of all
pay attention to them appearance. Seafood has the ability to change its color
with temperature fluctuations. Therefore, if you see pale pink shrimp in front of you
colors, it is likely that they have been thawed and refrozen.
Of course, in this case, the product loses all its useful properties.

Pay attention to the color of the shrimp heads. Green heads should not cause concern:
this color only indicates that the shrimp fed on plankton. Here are the black shades
shrimp heads should make you wary: most likely, this is a low-quality
product, for a long time was in a frozen state.

Shrimps (lat. Caridea) belong to the infraorder crustacean order decapods. Initially, they lived in the seas and oceans, but now they can be found in salt lakes and even in fresh water. Where exactly do shrimp live, and how do they differ? It turns out that their sizes directly depend on the places of dislocation and taste qualities. There are a lot of shrimp around the equator. various types. The closer to the poles of the Earth, the fewer these species. At the same time, the size of each individual specimen decreases simultaneously with the number.

Warm water shrimp

Warm-water shrimp can be easily found, caught and eaten in equatorial countries, for example, in Kenya, Brazil, Ecuador, or in the homeland of the most famous pirates in the world today - in Somalia. Here, in pacific ocean, at a water temperature of + 25 ... + 30 ° С and the largest (reaching a size of 30 centimeters) and delicious shrimps are found on the globe- they are also called. For residents Galapagos Islands the extraction and export of these crustaceans is one of the main sources of income. But shrimp from the waters are the most valued all over the world. Latin America where they are bred on special farms. They meet the highest quality standards, because the owners and employees are proud of their impeccable reputation and do not want to spoil it for anything.

Shrimp living in cold waters

Smaller shrimp (from 2.5 to 10 centimeters in size) live in the seas and oceans, with average temperature water +15°С. If you want to see these crustaceans in their native element or taste dishes prepared from freshly caught shrimp, head to the shores of the Baltic, Barents or North Seas. However, the most delicious of the cold-water shrimp, from the point of view of gourmets, are those that can be found and caught in Greenland and off the coast of Canada.

freshwater shrimp

Freshwater shrimp can be classified as a separate family. They are found in the Amur River basin, live in the cave reservoirs of Transcaucasia. Shrimp living in fresh water Far East, are considered relict, since as a result of geological changes in the land, they were isolated from other related species.

The influence of water temperature and salinity on the life of shrimp

Regardless of where shrimp live, their size and quality of life are subject to fluctuations in ambient temperature. Individuals living in equatorial waters feel best in the temperature range from +25 to +30°C. If the temperature of their habitat drops, reaching +15°C and below, shrimps can die within a short time. However, an increase in temperature to just + 35 ° C is detrimental to crustaceans. For marine shrimp living far from the equator and freshwater shrimp living in the south of the Far East (in the northernmost habitats), Better conditions- +15°С. If the temperature drops to +10°C, shrimp larvae may die. When the water temperature approaches 0 degrees, adults are not able to survive either. If staying in isn't enough warm water becomes long, shrimp begin to feel bad, grow slowly or do not change in size at all and can survive in such conditions for only 2-2.5 months.

The salinity of water is much less important for shrimp than its temperature. Since all shrimp (even freshwater ones) initially have maritime origin, they are perfectly adapted to fluctuations in the salt content of the water. For example, freshwater shrimp living in the rivers of the Far East, without damage, experience a not too long increase in the level of salinity of the water to 16‰. Many species of shrimp during the breeding season are forced to migrate to places where fresh river water mixes with salty sea water, reaching a salt content of 22‰.

This creation of nature has quite unusual appearance. The shrimp is an inhabitant water world, and it's fun to follow their behavior by diving in a mask, for example, tropical waters. If you stir the lush algae, these crustaceans start jumping out like grasshoppers.

Shrimps. Definition

This animal is optimally adapted to living conditions in sea ​​depths, which undoubtedly affected its structure. Shrimp - who is this? Crustacean from the detachment (counted in total 250 genera and about 2,000 species). Caridea (as these inhabitants of the seas and oceans are scientifically called) are distributed everywhere in the oceans and seas, they are even found in some reservoirs with fresh water, species are most diverse in tropical waters. They are found in abundance in the Black and Azov Seas. To the question "Is a shrimp an animal or not?" - the answer is definitely positive, since all arthropods are representatives of the animal kingdom.

Structure

The body, elongated along the length, is slightly flattened on the sides. It is divided into two main segments: abdomen, cephalothorax. The second section makes up half of the entire body. At the beginning of the shell of the cephalothorax there is a pair of eyes that are located in special recesses. The cephalothorax is protected by a chitinous shell, hard and strong, 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

The 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 pigment 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 to the base of the eyes, and oblique rays can reach the retina: the shrimp already sees objects completely, but their outlines are blurred.

The shrimp is a ten-legged crustacean

Despite the fact that these Marine life are classified as 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 at the end of which small claws are located, perform a special task - with their help, the animal cleans its body and gills if clogged. Other legs are used for movement along the bottom, they bigger size and longer than the others. And the limbs of the abdomen are used when the crustacean has to swim. At the end of the body is a wide, strong fin. It bends sharply, making it possible to move jerkily. When a shrimp stops and sits, for example, on algae, it moves in all directions with its long antennae.

What do they eat

The shrimp is an omnivore. The menu of these aquatic inhabitants consists of plankton, as well as algae, even soil. Usually a huge number of shrimp of some species are located near the fishing nets: they devour the caught fish with such speed that, if the tackle is not reached in time, the fishermen can only get naked skeletons.

Shrimps find their food with the help of the organs of smell and touch. With the loss of antennas or eyes, this time can be significantly increased. In this case, the animal uses the fingers of the walking legs and the bristles of the appendages of the mouth - they are highly sensitive.

reproduction

Shrimp are bisexual, but the male and female corresponding glands are formed in different time. 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 offspring (literally - carry it with them) until the hatched larvae appear from the eggs.

delicacies

And these animals are traditionally eaten. Recipes for culinary dishes that include these seafood as ingredients are popular among different peoples, mainly living on the coasts. Like many other seafood, these crustaceans are high in protein and calcium, but are low in calories. Shrimp dishes are a good source of "correct" cholesterol and as a food, they are undoubtedly a tasty and healthy delicacy.

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