Characterized by a translucent, laterally flattened, curved abdomen with a tail fan at the end. The second antenna is long and whip-like. The abdominal limbs are swimming limbs. It is found in oceans and freshwater lakes and streams. Many species are important for food. Size ranges from a few meters to a few millimeters, averaging 4 to 8 centimeters. The larger ones are called prawns. Swims rapidly backwards with a curved abdomen and tail. Eats microscopic organisms, some eat carrion. Females can lay 1,500 to 14,000 eggs, which are attached to the swimming limbs. They undergo five developmental stages before becoming adults. The shrimp has a long, flat body with a calcareous exoskeleton and is divided into two parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen. The cephalothorax is covered by a carapace. The abdomen consists of 7 segments. The anterior end of the cephalothoracic armor has an elongated, serrated frontal sword and a pair of compound eyes with stalks that can be rotated. The shrimp breathes through gills, which are located on both sides of the cephalothorax and are covered by the carapace. The mouth of the shrimp is at the base of the cephalothorax. The cephalothorax has two pairs of antennae, which are responsible for smell, touch and balance, and a masticatory apparatus consisting of large and small jaws. The cephalothorax also has 3 pairs of jaws to help hold food, and 5 pairs of steppers, which are mainly used for hunting and crawling. The abdomen has 5 pairs of swimming limbs and a pair of stubby caudal limbs. The tail limbs and the last section of the abdomen are combined into a tail fan, which controls the direction of the shrimp's swimming.