Head to head
Freshwater Shrimp vs Brown Shrimp
Freshwater Shrimp
VS Brown Shrimp
The freshwater shrimp and the brown shrimp are both called shrimps, but they live in different waters and belong to different groups of crustaceans.
| Freshwater Shrimp | Brown Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gammarus pulex | Crangon crangon |
| Group | An amphipod, with a curved, sideways-flattened body | A true shrimp, with a sandy, speckled body |
| Size | About 1 to 2 cm long | Usually 5 to 9 cm long |
| Habitat | Streams, rivers, and lakes with clean, flowing water | Sandy and muddy shallows, estuaries, and tidal flats |
| Hiding | Hides among stones and leaves, and curls up when out of the water | Buries itself in sand with only its eyes and antennae showing, and changes colour to match the sand, mud, or gravel |
| Diet | Fallen leaves and the fungi and bacteria on them, along with algae and dead animals | Small worms, crustaceans, young fish, and plant and animal remains found on the sand |
| Role | A key food for trout, bullheads, dippers, and many other animals, and an indicator of clean water | Eaten by flatfish, bass, cod, and seabirds, and fished in large numbers, including for potted shrimps |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, but abundant in clean streams across Europe | Not Evaluated, but abundant across north-western Europe |
Freshwater Shrimp vs Brown Shrimp: common questions
Is a freshwater shrimp a true shrimp?
No, it is an amphipod, a different kind of crustacean, with a curved, sideways-flattened body.
Which one is eaten by people?
The brown shrimp, which is fished in large numbers and made into potted shrimps in places such as Morecambe Bay.
Which one lives in fresh water?
The freshwater shrimp, which lives in streams, rivers, and lakes with clean, flowing water, whereas the brown shrimp lives in estuaries and on tidal flats.