Oberonia attenuata is an epiphytic herb with between four and seven thin, dark green, hanging leaves 80–150 mm (3.1–5.9 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide with their bases overlapping and sharply pointed tips.

[2][3] Oberonia attenuata was first formally described in 1960 by Alick Dockrill who published the description in The North Queensland Naturalist from a specimen he collected near the Mossman River.

[4][5] The specific epithet (attenuata) is a Latin word meaning "drawn out", "tapered", "weakened" or "thin".

[6] The Mossman fairy orchid has been seen growing on a rainforest tree near a watercourse.

It is now listed as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "endangered" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.