If you are new to eating seafood or you just find your new hub of curiosity in sea animals, then the lobster and shrimp must be the epicentre of your attention.
Since most of the sea animals are small in size and quite similar to each other, there is a high chance that one confuses one with another. However, a number of them are related to each other with several differences that are symbolic to identify them.
The description below will help you find if shrimps and lobsters are related or not.
Relation between Shrimps and Lobsters
Shrimps and Lobsters are classified as Crustaceans, belonging to the Malacostraca family. They are close relative to each other having similar physical features like compound eyes and their heads fused with their bodies.
Apart from shrimps and lobsters, Malacostraca families also include other members like crabs, prawns, and krill. Also, this family is further classified within several taxonomic hierarchies.
Crabs, Shrimps, and Lobsters belong to the subclass Eumalacostraca. At present, there are approximately 40,000 species of them. Contrasting to shrimps, lobsters are the second most abundant species next to crabs in this group.
So, are they related?
The above discussion may infer upon you that shrimps and lobsters are related to each other, but here comes the real point.
Physical differences between Shrimps and Lobsters
Belonging to suborder Decapoda, Shrimps have an elongated and narrow body structure than that of ordinary lobsters. The exoskeleton, which you can understand as the shell, of the shrimp is translucent.
Physically, shrimps have grey to white color with a few of them even existing in the green shade. The unique ability of shrimp is that they change their color as a form of adaptation to their surroundings. That’s why you may find shrimps at restaurants different from the pictures.
The locomotive method of shrimp is swimming which is achieved by the tails or telsons which are considered the primary layer. Shrimps are not devoid of legs, but their legs called swimmerets exist beneath their bodies. They don’t use them though.
On the other hand, lobsters are members of large marine crustaceans, belonging to the family Nephropidae.
As their physical appearance tells, they have a long body with a muscular tail and knuckles. They have five pairs of legs having claws with each of them; three of the claws are much larger than the others.
Lobsters are highly prized and prioritized seafood that are also economically important. Compared to shrimps, lobsters are often considered more profitable entities and commodities in coastal areas where they habitat.
Like shrimps, lobsters also have an exoskeleton that they don’t shed.
Some Other Differences
Lobsters and shrimps both have a different method of reproduction; while lobsters carry their egg with them throughout their way but shrimps release their egg directly into the open sea.
There exist a habitat difference between them. The lobsters are selective and limited to living in the sea (salty) waters only. They prefer to settle in cervices or the burrows near the sea floor. But on the other hand, shrimps live in both fresh and salty waters.
Physically, shrimps are a lot smaller in size as compared to lobsters. Even the biggest of all (jumbo) shrimps are equal to regular lobsters.
Eating Process of Shrimp and Lobster
Until now, your interest in shrimp and lobster must be aggravated enough to buy them and eat them. Right?
Just like there are several differences between the physical appearance and biological features of shrimps and lobsters; similarly, their eating process is not related to each other at all.
For lobsters, the tail is the most popular part for its meatiest quantity, and also, it is easy to handle. The meat in the tail part is chewier than claw meat. You will also find the soft green mass when you cook a lobster. Don’t worry, this green mass is none other than the digestive gland (liver and pancreas combined) of the lobster.
The meat in the knuckles is though in the least quantity but yet it is the tastiest one. Claw muscles are softer as compared to the other part of the body as they are not much used as the tail.
For shrimps, if they are served intact, you can have them eaten with your mere fingers; however, fork and knives are preferred.
To eat the shrimp, you need to remove the head and the tail with a sharp pull and object. The shell should then be removed starting from the belly. You can identify this part by removing the belly where the legs meet the body.
The thumb should be pressed right above the legs which will result in the cracking of the shell. Legs should then be removed by peeling off the shell.
Then, you can fill your appetite with the rich nutrients of shrimp!
What to Prefer; Shrimps or Lobsters?
Finally, you must be thinking about what to prefer between shrimps and lobsters.
Logically, both are unique in terms of their nutritional value, physical features, and method of eating.
Both are protein-packed seafood items, which are easy to cook and prepare. They contain heart-healthy omegas, B12 vitamins, and antioxidants that boost immunity. However, shrimps contain more proteins and fewer fats than lobsters.
So, whether shrimps and lobsters are related to each other or not, both are equally necessary to a balanced diet.
