| Freshwater
Shrimp
As the name suggests, they are like the prawns
you get in the fish shop, only smaller.
What they look like:
Freshwater Shrimp are transparent, with a very thin
and smooth outer shell that is periodically shed as
they grow. They have a large spine sticking out at the
front of the head and a fan tail, which can be speckled
with blue or green markings. Freshwater Shrimp have
10 jointed legs (they are decapods; deca –
ten, pod - leg), well-developed swimmerets (like
fans under their tail) and a body that is flattened
sideways.
Size:
Up to 35 mm long.
Where they live:
Freshwater Shrimp are found in freshwater rivers and
ponds, close to the bank, or on rocks and aquatic plants.
They prefer slow flowing water.
What they eat:
Freshwater Shrimp mainly eat decomposing vegetation, bacteria
and particles of algae. They use their first two pairs
of legs to grab the food and put it in their mouth.
Pollution
tolerance: Tolerant, rating 3.
Freshwater Shrimp cannot tolerate chemical pollution. Pollution damages their delicate gills, which they use to breathe. |
What’s interesting about
the Freshwater Shrimp?
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