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Shrimp are part of the order Decapoda and inhabit seas, rivers and lakes. Their head is fused with the thorax, forming a structure known as the cephalothorax. Shrimp have abdominal legs, or pleopods, which are covered in fine hair and used for swimming. Female shrimp also use their pleopods to carry eggs. Shrimp play a crucial role in the food chain, serving as a food source for many species. Most shrimp species are omnivorous; however, some specialize in cleaning the bodies, mouths, and gills of marine fish, including predatory species. Interestingly, these predators do not eat the cleaning shrimp, as this seemingly risky service is highly valued and beneficial to them.
