# the other black line in shrimp, what is it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-black-line-in-shrimp-what-is-it/345816>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 23, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-black-line-in-shrimp-what-is-it/345816 "2006-02-23T17:36:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stanley0122](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@stanley0122](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanley0122)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-black-line-in-shrimp-what-is-it/345816/1 "2006-02-23T17:36:47Z")

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In cleaning and deveining shrimp I have noticed two distinct black tracts (vessels). One of the lines is closer to the outer curvature of the body, which I believe is the digestive tract, and one is closer to the inside curvature of the body, which I have yet been able to identify. What is it? Just to be on the safe side, I routinely remove both of them.

Thanks 🙂

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-black-line-in-shrimp-what-is-it/345816/2 "2006-02-23T18:07:14Z")

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Along the belly of the beastie? [Spinal cord](http://www.kwic.com/~pagodavista/schoolhouse/species/insects/crustace.htm) most likely.

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**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-black-line-in-shrimp-what-is-it/345816/3 "2006-02-23T18:52:41Z")

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And no need to remove it. There’s nothing nasty there.