As its name suggests, mud whiting prefer muddy or silty substrates, and are commonly found in association with the banana prawn.

[2] As with most of the genus Sillago, the mud whiting has a slightly compressed, elongate body tapering toward the terminal mouth.

The scale margins are occasionally slightly darker than the centres, giving a vague mesh-like appearance above the lateral line.

[4] Mud whiting are commonly associated with the banana prawn, Penaeus merguiensis de Man in northern Australia, and inhabit most muddy or very silty substrates.

Mud whiting occur in a range of depths, from 0 to 60 m. The species reaches sexual maturity at 10 cm.

[5] Mud whiting are most often taken by trawl nets, with large amounts taken by prawn trawlers but as the species grows to only 16 cm, the catch is of no commercial importance at present.