If you’ve ever kept shrimp as pets or handled them when fishing, you may have wondered how they breathe. Unlike fish that use gills to extract oxygen from water, shrimp have unique respiratory structures that allow them to breathe both underwater and in air for short periods of time.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Yes, shrimp can breathe air. They have gills to breathe underwater but also have structures on their legs and abdomen that allow them to breathe air when out of water for short periods.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore how shrimp respire both in water and on land. We’ll look at the unique anatomy that facilitates their dual respiratory system, how long they can survive out of water, and other interesting facts about shrimp respiration.
Anatomy of Shrimp Gills and Air Breathing Structures
Gills for Underwater Breathing
Like fish, shrimp have specialized organs called gills that allow them to extract oxygen from water (Wood and Wood 1937). Gills are located inside a chamber on the shrimp’s body under the carapace (exoskeleton covering the head) called the branchial chamber.
The gills contain many thin, hair-like filaments that provide a large surface area for gas exchange to occur.
As water flows through the branchial chamber, oxygen in the water diffuses across the gill filaments into the shrimp’s bloodstream while waste carbon dioxide diffuses out. The oxygenated blood then circulates through the body to supply tissues and organs with this essential molecule needed for aerobic respiration and energy production.
Since gills require water to function properly, shrimp would quickly suffocate in open air as their gills collapsed. This limits shrimp to aquatic habitats like coastal waters, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes where their underwater breathing mechanism works effectively.
Branchiostegal Lungs for Surface Breathing
While shrimp gills meet their oxygen demands in the water column, some shrimp species have evolved aerial respiration adaptations that allow them to breathe surface air for short periods of time (Wood and Wood 1937).
These species, including grass shrimp (Palaemonetes) and Malaysian prawns (Macrobrachium), use branchiostegal lungs to supplement their gill breathing when oxygen levels in the surrounding waters decline or to survive out of water for brief stretches (McMahon and Wilkens 1975).
Branchiostegal lungs consist of thin-walled outpocketings under the carapace called branchiostegal pouches. By rapidly beating specialized appendages called scaphognathites, the shrimp pumps water in and out of the branchiostegal pouches, allowing for gas exchange with air at the water surface.
While not as efficient as dedicated lungs, branchiostegal lungs give certain shrimp species more flexibility in their breathing capacities.
| Breathing Structure | Gas Exchange Environment | Example Species |
|---|---|---|
| Gills | Underwater | Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), Atlantic white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) |
| Branchiostegal Lungs | Water Surface | Grass shrimp (Palaemonetes), Malaysian prawns (Macrobrachium) |
So while most shrimp species rely entirely on gills for underwater breathing, adaptations like branchiostegal lungs give certain types added resilience. Understanding the anatomical basis of shrimp respiration provides key insights into their ecological tolerances and habitat preferences in aquatic environments.
How Long Can Shrimp Live Out of Water?
Shrimp are aquatic creatures that need to live in water to survive. However, they can survive for a brief time out of water under the right conditions. According to The Spruce Pets, shrimp can survive for 30-60 minutes out of water if kept cool and damp.
The key to shrimp surviving temporarily without water is preventing them from drying out. Their gills must remain moist in order to breathe. A damp paper towel or cloth is often used when transporting live shrimp.
The evaporation of moisture from the damp surface provides humidity that allows the shrimp’s gills to function for a short time.
Other factors that influence shrimp survival time out of water include temperature and oxygen availability. Cooler temperatures below 60°F help shrimp conserve moisture and slow their metabolism, extending how long they can go without submersion.
Access to an air stone or aerating the transport container with oxygen can also buy extra minutes before the shrimp begin to suffocate and perish.
While shrimp can handle short-term air exposure under the right conditions, they cannot live permanently out of water like some intertidal species. Any longer than an hour at most, and shrimp will experience fatal organ failure and die without the support of their aquatic respiratory systems and habitat.
Other Interesting Facts About Shrimp Respiration
Shrimp Ventilate Their Gills
Shrimp have specialized appendages called pleopods that they use to pump water over their gills, allowing for ventilation. The pleopods create water currents that bring oxygen-rich water into the shrimp’s gill chamber. As the water passes over the gills, oxygen is absorbed.
Carbon dioxide and other waste gases are expelled.
This constant flappling of the pleopods is crucial for a shrimp’s respiration. Without adequate water flow and ventilation, the shrimp would effectively suffocate. The rate and vigor of pleopod movement provides a good indication of the shrimp’s respiratory status.
Some Shrimp Species Breathe Air More Efficiently
While all shrimp need water to breathe, some species have adapted to withstand lower oxygen conditions and even breathe air for short periods. These include:
- Vampire shrimp – Have a highly vascularized pleopod surface to maximize oxygen absorption.
- Marsh shrimp – Can survive in oxygen-poor wetlands by breathing air.
- Malaysian wood shrimp – Have specialized cavity to store air bubble for breathing.
Being able to utilize aerial respiration gives these shrimp a survival advantage in low-oxygen aquatic habitats. However, they still need access to water to keep their gills moist.
| Species | Air-Breathing Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Vampire shrimp | Increased blood vessel density in pleopods |
| Marsh shrimp | Can survive prolonged exposure to air |
| Malaysian wood shrimp | Specialized air bubble holding cavity |
Conclusion
In summary, shrimp have a dual respiratory system that allows them to breathe both underwater through gills and briefly on land by absorbing oxygen from the air. Their specialized branchiostegal lungs and ventilation mechanisms give them flexibility to survive for short spurts out of their aquatic environment.
While shrimp respiration shares some features with fish, their unique structures enable them to inhabit shallow, intertidal areas that fish cannot.
We hope this detailed overview gave you a deeper understanding of how shrimp breathe. Let us know if you have any other questions about the amazing abilities of these ubiquitous crustaceans!
