Prawns and shrimp taste similar, but there are many anatomical differences between these two crustaceans: Classification: While prawns and shrimp belong to the same Crustacea subphylum, these crustaceans occupy different suborders. For example, I always thought “ prawn ” was a regional, British name for the animal that Americans call shrimp . As it turns out, there is actually a scientific difference between a shrimp and a prawn — and it isn’t just about their respective sizes. This guide will help you tell the differences between shrimp and prawns , once and for all. Size and Taste In most cases, shrimp are smaller than prawns . You shouldn’t use this as the only way to tell the difference between the two, though, because some large shrimp are bigger than a normal prawn. Taste is also not a way of telling the two crustaceans apart. There are different types of shrimp and prawns that taste and feel different, but those differences don’t fall along “ shrimp ” and “prawn” lines. In short, shrimp and prawns are different, but their tastes are the ... embarrassingly learnt that shrimps and prawns are NOT the same. In short, while shrimp and prawns are not the same, their flavors are, and therefore make them interchangeable in recipes.