[1][2] It was formerly recognised as a subspecies (Aonyx capensis congicus) of the African clawless otter.

[1] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, subtropical or tropical swamps, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater spring, inland deltas, saline lakes, intermittent saline lakes, saline marshes, intermittent saline marshes, shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, rocky shores, sandy shores, estuarine waters, intertidal flats, intertidal marshes, coastal saline lagoons, coastal freshwater lagoons, water storage areas, ponds, aquaculture ponds, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and canals and ditches.

Clawless otters have slender, serpentine bodies with dense, luxurious fur and long tails.

Congo clawless otters feed on fairly soft prey items, such as small land vertebrates, frogs, and eggs.

The Congo clawless otter is threatened by the anthropogenic alteration or degradation of riparian and freshwater habitats.

Otter bushmeat is common in Congo and Cameroon but not for Gabon because of its reputation of being dangerous.