They are white with a black head. Both sexes are polled and the breed belongs to the fat-rumped type. Somali sheep are the immediate ancestor of the Blackheaded Persian which was developed in South Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and that has been widely used for crossbreeding in many parts of Africa and elsewhere in the tropics.
Nad on valged, musta peaga. Mõlemast soost on sarvedeta ja tõug kuulub rasva-rumped tüüp. Somaalia lambad on vahetu esivanem Blackheaded Pärsia mis töötati välja Lõuna-Aafrika 19. sajandi lõpul ja 20. sajandi algusest ja mis on laialdaselt kasutatud Ristisiitos mitmel pool Aafrikas ja mujal troopikas.