of
Kolkata The terms shrimp and prawn originated in Britain. In the use of common names for species, shrimp is applied to smaller species, particularly species that are
dorsoventrally depressed (wider than deep) with a shorter
rostrum. It is the only term used for species in the family
Crangonidae, such as the common shrimp or brown shrimp,
Crangon crangon. Prawn is never applied to very small species. It is applied to most of the larger forms, particularly species that are
laterally compressed (deeper than wide) and have a long rostrum. However, the terms are not used consistently. For example, some authors refer to
Pandalus montagui as an Aesop shrimp, while others refer to it as an Aesop prawn.
Commonwealth countries, and Ireland, tend to follow British usage. Some exceptions occur in Australia, where some authors refer to small species of the
Palaemonidae as prawns and call the
Alpheidae pistol shrimp. Other Australian authors have given the name
banded coral shrimp to the prawn-like
Stenopus hispidus and listed "the
Processidae and
Atyidae as shrimps, the
Hippolytidae,
Alpheidae,
Pandalidae and
Campylonotoidea as prawns". In Canada, the terms are often used interchangeably as in New Zealand (larger species are prawns, and smaller are often shrimp), but regional variations exist. South Africa and the former British colonies in Asia also seem to follow British usage generally. ==See also==