The prawns are covered in fine hairs, giving them a slippery feel when handled.

Several species of Metapenaeus have fine hairs on their bodies, giving a slippery or greasy feel.

[2]: 20 Juveniles are found in rivers up to 35 km from the sea, moving down to coastal lakes and estuaries as they mature.

They reach sexual maturity at one year and spawn in summer around the time of full moon.

[3] The greentail prawn is endemic to the east coast of Australia and has been found as a non-native species in New Zealand.

[6][7] In New South Wales, the greentail is a secondary catch of trawling for school and king prawns and for squid in the Clarence, Hunter, and Hawkesbury Rivers.