Difference Between Fish and Prawn

The main difference between fish and shrimp is that the fish is identified by its lack of a backbone, while the shrimp is identified by its shell and lack of bones.

fish vs shrimp

Fish have fins and scales on their body and they also have a backbone and are categorized as cold-blooded animals. Prawns do not have scales on their skin and have a layer that covers their body. For respiration, fish use the gill slits. The shrimp breathes through branched gills. Fish do not have claws in their mouths. The shrimp has long claws in the mouth. The fish are medium in size. Based on size, prawns are classified as shrimp if they are small and classified as prawns if they are large. Fish have tails and they move from side to side as they swim. Shrimp have tail fins for swimming. Fish have fins instead of legs. The shrimp has claws on its head.

There are different types of fish, such as salmon, tuna, etc. Prawns also have different types such as tiger prawns, giant prawns, etc. Fish is a great source of omega-3s, while shrimp is a great source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients. Prawns also contain a variety of allergens and can also cover many diseases.

As a diet, fish are lower in cholesterol, while shrimp are higher in cholesterol. Fish are rich in vitamins. Prawns are not rich in vitamins. The fish take as a diet high in calories and fat. Prawns are preferred because they are lower in calories and fat. Fish have a skeletal structure of bone or cartilage. Prawns do not have a skeletal structure; They have an exoskeleton structure.

Comparison chart

What is fish?

The fish is a member of the paraphyletic group, consisting of animals with gills whose exact relationships are much debated. Fishes are classified into groups according to their nature of structure, such as cartilaginous fishes (class Chondrichthyes 800 species including sharks and rays), bony fishes (classes of Osteichthyes), and jawless fishes (class Agnatha 75 species including lampreys and hagfish).

The fish are mainly warm-blooded and large active swimmers such as shark and tuna; they can tolerate higher core temperatures. Fish are both scavengers and predators. Fish are full of nutrients and protein. Some fish also feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton and are therefore rich in oils (Omega 3 fatty acids): around 29,000 species of fish make up the most diverse group of vertebrates.

Eating fish is healthy for you; Mostly salmon and tuna are the most popular besides tilapia, cod and catfish are also good choices to eat. Salmon and tuna are included in easy meals like salads and sandwiches. The American Heart Association recommends that eating fish at least twice a week is good for your heart, providing essential nutrients. Three ounces of fish will give you 110-160 grams of calories, 22-24 grams of protein and other macronutrients like fat. Fish contains a slightly significant percentage of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron.

Advantages of fish

• Fish as food also provides you with essential and healthy vitamins.
• Fish contains phosphorous, which is vital for a healthy body; it strengthens our bones and potassium is good for our heart, and it also maintains a healthy blood pressure rate.
• Fish also contains a significant amount of zinc and iron.

What is Prawn?

Prawns found on ocean floors. Shrimp are generally related to “decapod crustaceans” and are found in both fresh and salt water. The term decapod crustaceans means creatures that have ten legs with exoskeletons or shells from which they molt and grow. At some points, shrimp, also known as prawns. Prawns are large in size compared to shrimps and swimming crustaceans.

For the first time, term prawns used in the UK, Commonwealth countries and Ireland for large crustaceans such as “Shrimp that are commercially important in the fishing industry. The term shrimp and prawn is mostly used interchangeably. According to the 1911 encyclopedia in the United States, a larger species such as Leander Serratus, the term shrimp was incorrectly applied to the term shrimp. Although the word prawn is also used for freshwater shrimp, shrimp are an important part of the ecological chain that is delicate and never exploited. Both prawns and prawns are farmed, sold and served all over the world. They are found in both warm and cold water from the tropics to the poles and in fresh and salt water, but more varieties are found in fresh water.

Advantages of the shrimp

• Prawns are a great source of vitamin B-6, B-12, and niacin.
• It helps our body to produce a lot of energy.
• It also strengthens our muscles and replenishes red blood cells (RBCs).
• Eating prawns also helps us strengthen our bones.
• The cholesterol contained in shrimp is vital for a healthy diet.

Key differences

1. Fish are vertebrates, while prawns are invertebrates with an exoskeleton.
2. Fish are limbless and have fins; On the other hand, the Prawns have limbs and antennae.
3. Fish can be cartilaginous and bony depending on the body; and on the other hand, prawns have a shell.
4. Fish are very rich in fat and nutrients while prawns are less rich in fat and nutrients as compared to fish.
5. Fish have fins; rather, shrimp do not have fins.
6. The body of the fish is divided into three segments: head, trunk and tail, although the body of the shrimp is divided into two segments, head and abdomen.
7. Fish show a greater diversity of species than any other group of vertebrates. However, prawns are found in fresh water and also in salt water.
8. The fish has scales or skin; on the other hand, Shrimp possesses a shell-like exoskeleton.
9. Fish contains 22-24 grams of protein; On the other hand, Prawn contains 20 grams of protein.
10. Fish are cold-blooded animals and allow their body to vary according to changes in ambient temperature. At the same time, Shrimp is usually the name of small aquatic crustaceans, some of which can be eaten by wild fish.
11. Scales surround Fish’s body. However, prawns have a shell that covers their body. These shells are made up of 19 segments and are divided into different parts of the body, i.e. cephalothorax and pleon, which means abdomen.
12. Fish are endothermic and can be abundantly found in fresh water, salt water or marine water, such as high mountain streams, the deepest ocean and abysmal, while shrimp are found on the ocean floor.
13. The fish belong to the order of their family, for example, the salmon fish order is salmoniformes, while the large prawns belong to the dendrobranchiata order.

Final Thought

He concluded that fish belong to the class Pisces and shrimp belong to the crustaceans and are closely related to spiders and grasshoppers other than fish.