WHADJUK - BOYA NGURA SHADOW ARBOUR - Fishing for Jilgies
Jilgies, or Cherax quinquecarinatus, are a small freshwater crayfish endemic to the south-west corner of Australia. It is one of two species known as gilgie, or Jilgi, which is a seasonal food source for people of the region.
Reaching a maximum of 130 mm, C. quinquecarinatus is one of the smallest in the genus Cherax. They vary in colour from light to black-brown.
The Jilgie lives in permanent and temporary water courses in the south of Western Australia. They can survive periods of drought through aestivation - burrowing down and entering a state of dormancy.
They are widely found within the region, having a greater range of environments. These can include permanent lakes and areas receiving water for 5–7 months of the year. It lives in complex and narrow environments, such as silty river beds between fallen trees, feeding on decaying organic matter and receiving protection from predation. The animal undergoes many moults and these decrease with age. Sexual maturity can occur from two years and at half their fully mature size. Spawning occurs from late winter to early summer.