Prawns have 10 legs in total.

Quick Scoop

Short answer

  • Prawns are decapod crustaceans, which literally means “ten-footed,” so an adult prawn has 10 legs used for walking.
  • On top of that, they also have additional smaller appendages under the abdomen used mainly for swimming and carrying eggs, but when people ask “how many legs,” they’re usually talking about those 10 main legs.

Tiny anatomy tour

  • Prawns belong to a group of crustaceans whose bodies are divided into head, thorax, and abdomen.
  • The 10 legs are attached to the thorax and are used for walking, perching on surfaces, and handling food.
  • Several of the front legs end in small pincers (claws), which help them grab and manipulate food.

Bonus: prawn vs. shrimp

  • Both prawns and shrimp are decapods, so both have 10 legs.
  • A common difference is that prawns usually have three pairs of clawed legs, while shrimp have two pairs, but the total leg count is still 10 for both.

TL;DR: If you’re counting legs on a prawn for a quiz, exam, or kitchen curiosity, the number you want is 10.