Hello everyone. I am taking an online Marine Science course, and one of our labs was to dissect a shrimp. I thought I would share my experience with you and the information I gleaned from this watery activity! I have never cut open a shrimp before; to be honest, it wasn’t gruesome or bloody (rather, the body was grey and mushy). I also compared my findings with shrimp to characteristics of lobster and crabs.
My shrimp was gray with black speckles on the middle portion of the body. The tail and head were slightly translucent with pink undertones. I also cut open the tough, grayish carapace (hard outer surface on the head) and the inside organs were brown and gooey. Shrimp would probably lurk on the sea floor (benthic organisms), under sand, in between rocks, or in the open water. Their gray hue would blend in with the color of the ocean (the bottom layer of water is dark and murky). The black speckles also resemble sand and other ocean particles. As for the external appendages, I counted 22 in all (each separate walking leg and swimmeret as well as the two pink antennae). In short, there were ten pairs of legs and two feelers. The swimmerets and walking legs were clear and jelly-like—the texture was like the little sacks of juice in oranges or lemons. For swimming, shrimp use pleopods to propel themselves forward. The tail (composed of uropods and telson) is used for direction and speed.
Next, for feeding, shrimp have maxillipeds (which tear food apart) and a mandible (jaw) for chewing/crushing. Their leg hairs also filter food from the surrounding ocean waters. At the end of each of the shrimp (I acquired four from a local bait shop) were two long, delicate feelers or antennae that were pale pink. The antennae are used for taste/touch purposes (sensory organs). They are sensitive and detect predators and other objects in the environment. There were also small hairs/bristles on the end of the walking legs; they were short, prickly, and white. These small hairs filter food, detect current changes and predators, groom the shrimp, keep female eggs incubated (protected or warm), and act as sensory organs as well (like the antennae).
I also compared the characteristics of my shrimp to those of lobsters and crabs. I found many similarities between the three (i.e. they are all invertebrates!) All three crustaceans have antennae that are used for sensory purposes (to detect objects in the surrounding environment). All three have specific “walking legs” and appendages used strictly for swimming. For example, shrimp, lobsters, and crabs have “swimmerets.” They also have a carapace, the section of the crustacean that protects the softer internal organs. Lobsters have tiny hairs on their legs that are used for touch and taste as well. To get rid of impurities on the body, the antennae on the lobster and shrimp are used for grooming. Finally, all three have eyestalks, although their eyesight is altogether poor.
So why are shrimp such amazing and adaptive creatures? Here is a list of some of the reasons why I think shrimp are so resilient. First, the antennae help the shrimp navigate through their surroundings and detect prey. Second, the swimmerets allow shrimp to propel themselves forward fast, avoiding prey. Also, to successfully reproduce, female shrimp can incubate their eggs in their leg hairs. Shrimp are translucent or gray, allowing them to blend into their murky/sandy habitats (avoiding detection by predators). Next, the hard carapace protects vital shrimp organs; if they were to hit a rock or another organism, their upper half would be safe. Finally, shrimp are still able to survive even if their antennae are ripped off.
Sources:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/shrimp/identification.html
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/inv/shrimpanatomy.php
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