Prawns or Shrimps

[Agent Proto]

Okay, so we know that shrimps are delicious. But did you know that there are people who call shrimps by a different name? That's right! That defiled word is PRAWNS. Just the other day on #eoff, Shorty and I were telling Happy Noodle Boy that shrimps is the correct term, but he still insists on calling them prawns.

Now, tell me. Which side are you on? Shrimps or Prawns?

Edit: Oh come on, how could I have misspelled "both" in the poll??

[Shorty]

Defiled indeed. Shrimp is correct, "prawns" is not.

[Alpha2099]

I say shrimp. But I'm a lazy American, so take that for what you will.

[Pheesh]

We fish in shark, crocodile, stonefish and blue ringed octopus infected water to get our PRAWNS, we will call them whatever the hell we want!!

Don't like it? Then I'm sneaking some king brown snakes into your damn country when I visit.

[Pike]

I thought they were two different things...

Biologists distinguish the true shrimp from the true prawn because of the differences in their gill structures. The gill structure is lamellar in shrimp but branching in prawns. The easiest practical way to separate true shrimps from true prawns is to examine the second abdominal segment. The second segment of a shrimp overlaps both the first and the third segment, while the second segment of a prawn overlaps only the third segment.

Anyways, whatever you call 'em, they're delicious.

[Jinx]

I call it shrimp, cos that's what I know.

For some reason, when I hear "prawn" I always think of crawdads.

[Rantz]

I think the more important issue here is why do all crustaceans get such terrible names in English?

Prawn
Shrimp
Crab
Lobster
Mussel
Crayfish
Krill

They sound like cheesy nicknames from the 30's >:O

[Bubba]

Basically, everyone is correct.

North America say 'shrimp'. UK and Australia say 'prawn'.

Interesting fact though... did you know the over-used "Australian" phrase "Let's throw another shrimp on the barbie!" was popularised by Paul Hogan at the height of his short-lived US fame following Crocodile Dundee?

This is not what would be typically said in Australia.

[Quindiana Jones]

It's most sensible to always assume the Americans are doing it wrong, no matter what it is. Prawns it is, then.

[Shorty]

This means war, Quinterest.

[Quindiana Jones]

Will we be clothed?

[Shorty]

You assume that when people are fighting wars they're naked?

[Quindiana Jones]

Of... of course not.

I'm gonna need some time to get ready.

[Shorty]

No. Gross. I was instead thinking that American shrimp would fight the Australian shrimp and we would see who wins. (America's would because uh, America, smurf yeah.)

[Sephex]

Shrimp. I am a real American. Fish for the best all I can!