Facts About Shrimps

Other than being a source of food, most people don't put much thought into shrimp or consider that there is anything of interest to know about them. Surprisingly, there are certain facts about these crustaceans that are worth learning about; particularly if you have ever purchased and eaten it when it has been imported from another country.

  1. Appearance

    • Shrimps have a flexible, thin exoskeleton. They have large bulbous eyes and most types are faintly luminescent. There are over 300 different species that vary in size and color. Common colors are brown, gray, pink or yellow. In terms of size they can grow up to 9 inches but often tend to be smaller in size.

    Life Span

    • The average lifespan for shrimp is one to five years. Some shrimp may live as long as six-and-a-half years.

    Habitat

    • Shrimp can be found in both freshwater and seawater. Freshwater shrimp are often found in locations such as rivers, lakes and estuaries. Seawater shrimp are commonly found in areas with temperate and tropical water in the intertidal zone to the deep sea. They create their habitats in sea grass, shells and algae. Some shrimp will burrow in sand and even mud and can be found at depths of 3,280 feet.

    Diet and Feeding

    • Shrimp are considered scavengers that feed off of plankton and detritus. There are also many shrimp that are called "cleaning" shrimp because they remove ectoparasites from reef fish. In fact, Seaworld/Busch Gardens Animal-Info states that these fish will even allow the shrimp to insert their front claws, or chelipeds, into their gills to clean them.

    Health Benefits

    • According to the Glycemic-Index.org, shrimp are a source of protein and selenium. In addition they are also considered a good source for other nutrients such as vitamins B12 and D, iron, and zinc, for example. The selenium in shrimp can help to protect from degenerative diseases. Vitamin D is helpful in regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and Vitamin B12 assists in the formation of blood cells and in helping the brain to properly function. In addition, shrimp contain unsaturated fatty acids that encourage the formation of good cholesterol.

    Farming

    • Shrimp are farmed in over 50 countries around the world. Developing countries are the source of 99 percent of the production of shrimp. The top five export countries are Thailand, China, India, Vietnam and Denmark.

    Shrimp Problems

    • According to Fairfood.org, there is a child labor issue in some of the countries that collect and process shrimp. It claims that there children spend hours working in processing plants or in water collecting the shrimp. It also complains that agricultural lands are often taken over and used for shrimp farming, which in turn has a negative impact on the local food and drinkable water supply.