Shrimp species description. Overview of all types of freshwater aquarium shrimp
This creature of nature has a rather unusual appearance. Shrimp are creatures of the aquatic world, and it is fun to observe their behavior while snorkeling, for example, in tropical waters. If you stir the lush algae, these crustaceans begin to jump out like grasshoppers from the grass.
Shrimps. Definition
This animal optimally adapted to living conditions in the depths of the sea, which undoubtedly affected its structure. Shrimp - who is this? Crustacean from the order (there are a total of 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, 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 Seas. To the question “Is a shrimp an animal or not?” - the answer is clearly positive, since all arthropods are representatives of the animal kingdom.
Structure
The body is elongated in length and slightly flattened at the sides. It is divided into two main segments: the abdomen and cephalothorax. The second section makes up half of the entire body. At the beginning of the cephalothorax shell there is a pair of eyes that are located in special recesses. The cephalothorax is protected by a 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 different 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 increases. The 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 disperse to the base of the eyes, and oblique rays can reach the retina: the shrimp already sees objects in full, but their outlines are blurred.
Shrimp is a decapod crustacean
Despite the fact that these sea inhabitants are classified as decapods, in fact they have as many as nineteen pairs of limbs. And each is responsible for a specific action. The antennae, for example, are used for touch, and the thin ones, with small claws at the end, perform a special task - with their help the animal cleans its body and gills if they are clogged. The other legs are used to move along the bottom; they are larger 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 there is a wide, strong fin. It bends sharply, making it possible to move in jerks. When a shrimp stops and sits down, for example, on algae, it moves its long antennae in all directions.
What do they eat?
The shrimp is an omnivore. The menu of these aquatic inhabitants consists of plankton, as well as algae, and even soil. Usually, a huge number of shrimp of some species are found near fishing nets: they eat the caught fish so quickly that, if they do not get the gear in time, the fishermen may only get naked skeletons.
Shrimp find their food using their senses of smell and touch. If antennas or eyes are lost, this time can increase significantly. In this case, the animal uses the fingers of its walking legs and the bristles of its mouth appendages - they are highly sensitive.
Reproduction
Shrimp are bisexual, but male and female corresponding glands are formed at different times. At the onset of puberty, the individual first becomes a male, and in the third year of its life it transforms into the opposite, female sex. Females glue eggs onto the hairs of the abdominal legs, and then bear the offspring (literally - carry them with them) until hatched larvae emerge from the eggs.
Delicacies
These animals are also 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 rich in protein and calcium while containing few calories. Dishes containing shrimp are a good source of “good” cholesterol and, as a food, are undoubtedly a tasty and healthy delicacy.
Caridea Dana, 1852
Shrimps, or real shrimp(lat. Caridea) - infraorder of crustaceans from the order Decapods ( Decapoda). Widely distributed throughout the seas of the whole world, many species have mastered fresh waters. The size of adult specimens of different representatives varies from 2 to 30 cm. In the seas of the Russian Far East, the shrimp fauna includes more than 100 species. Many representatives of this group are objects of industrial fishing.
Although one of the existing types of aquaculture is called “shrimp farm”, the crayfish of the family grown on them Penaeidae according to modern ideas, they do not belong to true shrimp, but to another group of decapods - Dendrobranchiata.
Reproduction and development
Like all other representatives of the suborder Pleocyemata, a stage with a full set of segments emerges from under the egg membranes, and their number does not increase during further development. Many species of shrimp are characterized by protandric hermaphroditism, that is, during their lives they naturally change sex from male to female.
Eating
Cooking recipes using shrimp as ingredients are popular in many cultures. In Judaism, shrimp, like all marine arthropods, are prohibited as food. There is disagreement in Islam regarding the permissibility of their use.
Taxonomy
List of superfamilies of true shrimp:
Some representatives
- Comb chilim ( Pandalus hypsinotus);
- Amano Shrimp ( Caridina multidentata).
- Herbal chilim ( Pandalus latirostris);
- Spiked Shrimp Bear ( Sclerocrangon salebrosa);
- Northern shrimp ( Pandalus borealis)
In art
A recognized master of depicting shrimp was the famous Chinese artist Qi Baishi.
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Notes
Literature
- Westheide V., Rieger R. From arthropods to echinoderms and chordates // Zoology of invertebrates. = Spezielle Zoology. Teil 1: Einzeller und Wirbellose Tiere / trans. with him. O. N. Bölling, S. M. Lyapkova, A. V. Mikheev, O. G. Manylov, A. A. Oskolsky, A. V. Filippova, A. V. Chesunov; edited by A. V. Chesunova. - M.: Partnership of Scientific Publications KMK, 2008. - T. 2. - iv+513-935+iii p. - 1000 copies.
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Shrimps- this is one of the seafood, which is considered a delicacy in many countries of the world remote from the sea. Shrimp are a subspecies of marine crustacean creatures and can reach sizes of up to thirty centimeters. On average, the size of a shrimp is about ten to twelve centimeters (see photo). There are also about a hundred different types of shrimp, which differ mainly in size. Shrimp are caught in the seas, but sometimes they can be raised in farms.
An interesting fact is that at birth shrimp are hermaphrodites, and throughout their life they change sex from male to female in order to bear offspring.
Shrimp are often sold in stores in fresh-frozen, frozen and boiled-frozen forms. Can be sold both in packages and by weight. Fresh shrimp are dark green or pinkish-transparent in color, while cooked shrimp are bright pink or red.
If you go to the store and want to buy shrimp, then you should know how to choose them correctly so that they bring you only positive emotions.
The highest quality shrimp are those that have been frozen fresh, as they contain the largest amount of useful elements.
Varieties of shrimp
Today, there are about a hundred varieties of shrimp that are sold in stores and markets, however, the most popular of them are:
- royal;
- brindle;
- northern (Chilims).
King prawns, which are caught in the seas, are significantly different from their counterparts, which are grown on special farms. Shrimp not grown in the wild are capable of reaching sizes of up to twenty-five centimeters in one year, while they have a much more massive back part relative to the head, which makes them more tasty. Most often, the color of king prawns is greenish or even bluish. This type of shrimp is most often sold fresh frozen or boiled-frozen.
Tiger prawns are distinguished by their particularly large size, as well as the characteristic dark stripes on the shell, which is why they get their name. Tiger shrimp can reach up to forty centimeters in length, in addition, they contain much more meat than other types of shrimp. This type of crustacean can be both caught in the seas and bred on farms, so there is always an abundance of these shrimp on the shelves.
Several types of tiger shrimp are available for sale: frozen, fresh-frozen, chilled, boiled-frozen, and canned.
Northern shrimp, otherwise called chilims, are the smallest representatives of their species. The maximum size of such shrimps usually does not exceed eleven centimeters. Northern shrimp are caught or farmed in the Atlantic completely legally. An interesting fact is that, unlike their relatives, only northern shrimp carry eggs under their abdomen. Other types of shrimp throw it directly into the water.
On the shelves you can only find boiled and frozen types of northern shrimp, since only this method of transportation allows them to be kept as fresh and juicy as possible.
How to clean and cook?
Before I tell you about how to properly cook different types of shrimp, it is necessary to clarify that you can cook them both in the shell and without it. If you want to cook shrimp without the shell, then you need to know how to peel it. In our article we will tell you in detail how this can be done.
- The first step is to defrost the shrimp. To do this, it is best to place them on a plate and place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so that they thaw gradually. If you're in a hurry, you can place the bag of shrimp in room temperature water, changing it as it cools.
- When the shrimp are defrosted, place them on a wooden board and then sprinkle them thoroughly with salt. This way they will be salted, and it will also be much easier to remove the shell.
- Now you should take the shrimp in your hands, in one of which you should hold the head, and in the other the tail. After this, you need to carefully unscrew the head, and then tear off the legs.
- Then, starting from the head, gently pull the scales of the shell up, thus removing the entire shell. The tip of the tail should be carefully removed by pulling it towards you.
- If you see a dark line along the back, it will need to be removed as it is the esophagus.
- After you clean the shrimp, you will need to rinse them thoroughly under running water and then start cooking.
Now that you know how to properly peel shrimp, you can move on to the cooking process. First, let's look at the method by which you need to cook boiled-frozen shrimp. However, it is not necessary to clean them. The first step is to defrost them. For boiled frozen shrimp, the method with boiling water is suitable: they need to be placed in a colander and doused with water from a just boiled kettle. After this, you should transfer the shrimp to a saucepan and pour boiling water over them so that it completely covers the shrimp. You can add herbs, dried cloves, salt and black pepper to the water to taste. The shrimp should be cooked in this way for about two minutes, after which they can be placed on a plate and served.
If you are going to cook raw shrimp, then you should know that they need to be cooked much longer, and it does not matter whether they are peeled or not. To cook raw shrimp, you need to wait until they defrost on their own. After this, pour water into the pan, add salt, bay leaf and lemon juice and wait until it boils. Now you can put the shrimp in there. They should be cooked for at least 10 minutes, but the time may vary in each case. You can tell when the shrimp are ready when they float to the surface and turn pink. After this, you can turn off the water and transfer the shrimp to a plate.
How to cook?
As you know, shrimp can be cooked not only by boiling. In many restaurants around the world, shrimp are fried and baked, which only makes their taste even brighter.
If you want to boil shrimp, then you can add herbs and various spices to the water for them, which can make the taste of the shrimp richer and the aroma stronger. Boiled shrimp are perfect for seafood salads; you can make sandwiches, canapés with them, or eat them just like a snack.
Fried and baked shrimp have a great taste, but if they are not fried in olive oil, they will not serve as a dietary product. But they are wonderful for sandwiches and cream soups. In addition, you can prepare such an amazing dish as shrimp pasta. There are a huge number of recipes for preparing and using shrimp on our website; you can always choose what you like, and also see photos of ready-made dishes.
Benefits and harms
The benefits of shrimp are undeniable, since they, like many other seafood, contain a huge amount of useful elements. Shrimps has long been used as a powerful aphrodisiac, which increased the libido of both men and women.
Shrimp are a very low-calorie product, so they can serve as a dietary dish. At the same time, shrimp contain a whole range of vitamins, which is undoubtedly a plus for those who are forced to deny themselves high-calorie foods.
Regular consumption of shrimp helps eliminate allergenic cells, thereby reducing the risk of allergic reactions to any products. Shrimp also contains a large amount of antioxidants, which is why regular consumption helps destroy cancer cells.
If we talk about whether eating shrimp can be harmful, the answer is clear: it can. But only in two cases: in the case of excessively frequent consumption of shrimp, and also if they were caught in bodies of water contaminated by radiation.
Composition of shrimp
The chemical composition of shrimp is very diverse. The most important thing is that they contain a large amount of protein, which supplies the body with energy. Shrimp also contain beneficial Omega acids, which have a positive effect on the condition of human blood vessels, as well as on the elasticity of the heart muscle. Shrimp also contains a large number of useful microelements that fill the body and take care of it: manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, iodine, and many others. There are also plenty of vitamins in shrimp, and they are especially rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, E and D.
Thus, one small shrimp can rightfully be considered a storehouse of useful components.
Shrimps(from lat. Caridea) belong to the infraorder Crustaceans, a type of arthropod. They are common in the seas of almost the entire world, and some types of shrimp also live in freshwater bodies. Different types of shrimp differ in size from each other. So, an adult can be only 2 cm in length, but can reach 30 cm.
Shrimp are low in calories: 100 g contains only 94.5 kcal. However, they are very nutritious due to their high protein content. Their composition is so rich and varied that to maintain good health and vigor, it is enough to eat only a handful of this seafood.
Origin
As mentioned above, shrimp are freshwater and marine, but by their origin they all come from the World Ocean. Most shrimp live in the equatorial zone, which gives reason to assume that this is where their real homeland is. The further from the equator in both directions, the fewer species of shrimp and other crustaceans.
Shrimp are creatures of different sexes: females are larger, they have a wide tail and convex sides. When the female reaches puberty, eggs appear under the tail; the smell of their pheromones attracts males, who fertilize these eggs. After 4-6 weeks, larvae are born, which have to go through about 12 more instar stages before turning into adults.
The nutritional value
Shrimp is called one of the healthiest foods. The concentration of vitamins and microelements in shrimp is 50 (!) times higher than in meat, and their composition is truly diverse.
Thus, shrimp contain 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, and B vitamins. By the way, a large amount of vitamin B12 contained in shrimp promotes the production of hemoglobin and nourishes the nervous system. In addition, eating shrimp is very important when losing weight: the product contains practically no sugar and fat, but at the same time it perfectly satisfies hunger due to its high protein content.
Use in cooking
Most often, shrimp are added to salads, soups, pastas and risotto; this seafood is also included in some sauces. King and tiger prawns are sometimes served as independent dishes: for example, in the form of kebabs or simply fried in a frying pan. As a rule, such shrimps are not consumed boiled: their meat becomes “rubbery” and almost tasteless.
Small shrimp, on the contrary, are delicious when cooked. 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 in the broth for 10-15 minutes 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 correctly and fully. If you eat this product regularly, the likelihood of colds and respiratory diseases is reduced, immunity is increased, and the risk of allergies is reduced. In addition, eating shrimp is recommended for people with cancer.
Contraindications
Shrimp are considered such a safe product that they have virtually no contraindications. This healthy seafood can be given even to children. However, we should not forget about such a phenomenon as an allergy to seafood. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t eat shrimp in this case either.
Interesting Facts
It is important to know how to choose the right shrimp. In this case, it is necessary first of all
pay attention to their appearance. Seafood tends to change color
with temperature changes. Therefore, if you see pale pink shrimp in front of you
color, it is likely that they were thawed and re-frozen.
Of course, in this case the product loses all its beneficial 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 of poor quality
goods that have been in a defrosted state for a long time.
Shrimp are crustaceans, which are representatives of the order of decapods. They are widely distributed throughout all bodies of water in the world's oceans. The length of an adult shrimp does not exceed 30 centimeters and weighs 20 grams.
Science knows more than 2,000 individuals that live, including in fresh waters. The taste qualities of shrimp have led to them becoming the object of industrial production. Today, the practice of shrimp cultivation is widespread throughout the world.
Features and habitat of shrimp
Shrimp are unique animals in terms of their body structure. Features of shrimp lie in their anatomy. Shrimp are one of the rare crustaceans that shed and change their shells.
Her genitals and heart are located in the head area. The digestive and urinary organs are also located there. Like most crustaceans, shrimp breathes using gills.
The gills of the shrimp are protected by a shell and are located next to the walking legs. Normally, their blood is light blue in color; when there is a lack of oxygen, it becomes discolored.
Shrimp live in almost all large bodies of water in 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 are concentrated in equatorial regions. The further from the equator, the smaller their population.
Character and lifestyle of shrimp
Shrimps play an important role in the ecosystem of the seas and oceans. They clean the bottom of reservoirs from the remains of tubifex worms, aquatic insects and fish. Their diet consists of rotting plants and detritus - black silt formed as a result of the decomposition of fish and algae.
They lead an active lifestyle: they surf the bottom in search of food, crawl along the leaves of plants, cleaning them from snail leeches. Shrimp maneuverability in water is provided by walking legs on the cephalothorax and abdominal swimming legs, and the movements of the caudal peduncles allow them to quickly jump back and scare off their enemies.
Aquarium shrimp perform the functions of an orderly. They rid the reservoir of fouling by lower algae and feed on the remains of their dead “brethren.” Sometimes they can attack sick or sleeping fish. Cannibalism among these crustaceans is rare. It usually appears only in stressful situations or in conditions of prolonged hunger.
Types of shrimp
All species of shrimp known to science are divided into four groups:
- Warm water;
- Cold water;
- Brackish water;
- Freshwater.
The habitat of warm-water shrimp is limited to the southern seas and oceans. They are caught not only in their natural habitat, but also cultivated in artificial conditions. Science knows more than a hundred species of warm-water shrimp. Examples of such shellfish are black tiger and white tiger shrimp.
The photo shows a white tiger shrimp
Cold-water shrimp are the most common of the known subspecies. Their habitat is wide: they are found in the Baltic, Barents, North Seas, off the coast of Greenland and Canada.
At description of shrimp It is worth mentioning of such individuals that their length is 10-12 cm, and their weight is 5.5-12 grams. Cold-water shrimp cannot be artificially propagated 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 chilim shrimp and red comb shrimp.
Pictured is chilim shrimp
Shrimp, common in the salty waters of seas and oceans, are called brackish shrimp. So, in the Atlantic Ocean live red king prawns, northern white, southern pink, northern pink, serrated and other individuals.
The photo shows serrated shrimp
On the South American coasts you can find Chilean shrimp. The waters of the Black, Baltic and Mediterranean seas are rich in grass and sand shrimp.
The photo shows a grassy shrimp
Freshwater shrimp mainly live in the countries of Southeast and South Asia, Australia, Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. The length of such individuals is 10-15 centimeters and weighs from 11 to 18 grams. The most famous species are the troglocar shrimp, Palaemon superbus, Macrobachium rosenbergii.
Shrimp food
The basis shrimp nutrition consists of dying aquatic plants and organic remains. In their natural habitat they are scavengers. Shrimp will not refuse the pleasure of feasting on the remains of dead fish or even juvenile fish.
Among plants, they prefer to feed on those with 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 that live 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 within a centimeter, they suddenly 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 aquariums, specially developed feed is produced, enriched with nutrients and iodine. It is not recommended to feed them perishable vegetables.
As food you can use lightly boiled carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, dandelion leaves, clover, cherries, chestnuts, and walnuts. A real feast for a shrimp is the remains of an aquarium shrimp or its fellow shrimp.
Reproduction and lifespan of shrimp
During puberty, the female shrimp begins the process of forming eggs that resemble a green-yellow mass. When the female is ready to mate, she releases pheromones into the water - substances that have a specific odor.
Sensing this smell, males become more active in search of a partner and fertilize her. This process takes no more than a minute. Then the shrimp produces caviar. The norm for an adult female is a clutch of 20-30 eggs. The embryonic development of larvae lasts from 10 to 30 days, depending on the ambient temperature.
During the process of embryogenesis, 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 hatched larvae die due to unfavorable 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 preserve up to 30% of the offspring.
The larvae lead a sedentary lifestyle and are not able to obtain food, feeding on the available food. The last stage of development in these mollusks is called decapodite. During this period, the larva leads a lifestyle no different from an adult shrimp. On average, the life cycle of a shrimp lasts from 1.5 to 6 years.