Classification:
* Fish: Belong to the class Pisces and are vertebrates. They have a bony or cartilaginous skeleton, gills for breathing, and fins for movement.
* Prawns: Belong to the class Malacostraca and are invertebrates. They are crustaceans, meaning they have a hard exoskeleton, jointed legs, and segmented bodies.
Body structure:
* Fish: Have a streamlined body shape, fins for swimming, and scales covering their body. They have a single, closed circulatory system.
* Prawns: Have a segmented body with a hard exoskeleton. They have ten legs, two of which are large claws, and a tail fan used for swimming. They have an open circulatory system.
Breathing:
* Fish: Breathe through gills, extracting oxygen from the water.
* Prawns: Breathe through gills located on their legs.
Reproduction:
* Fish: Most fish reproduce by laying eggs, although some species are live-bearing.
* Prawns: Prawns reproduce by laying eggs that hatch into larvae.
Diet:
* Fish: Diets vary widely depending on the species. Some fish are herbivores, some are carnivores, and some are omnivores.
* Prawns: Prawns are generally omnivores, eating a variety of organisms, including algae, plankton, and other small invertebrates.
In short:
* Fish are vertebrates with scales, fins, and gills.
* Prawns are invertebrates with exoskeletons, jointed legs, and gills on their legs.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences:
| Feature | Fish | Prawn |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Vertebrate | Invertebrate |
| Skeleton | Bony or cartilaginous | Exoskeleton |
| Body shape | Streamlined, with fins | Segmented, with jointed legs |
| Breathing | Gills | Gills on legs |
| Circulatory system | Closed | Open |
| Reproduction | Lay eggs (mostly) | Lay eggs |
| Diet | Varies (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) | Omnivores |