Diagnosis: adipose fin present; head narrow and rounded, mouth width 50.3% HL, interocular width 53.9% HL, interorbital width 37.7% HL; posterior nostrils closer to each other than anterior ones; pectoral and dorsal spines rather long, dorsal spine length 15.4% SL, pectoral spine length 16.7% SL; inner side of pectoral spine feebly serrated; body depth small; snout projecting beyond border of mouth; barbels well developed, nasal barbels reaching to anterior border of opercle; 13 gill rakers on lower part of anterior arch; 47 non-fused vertebrae; 52 branched anal fin rays (Ref. 43912).

Description: 9 branched pectoral fin rays; 9 branchiostegal rays on one side of head; posterior side of dorsal spine very feebly serrated; teeth very small; vomerine and palatine bands narrow, as wide as premaxillary one, and although contiguous they still appear distinct from each other; caudal peduncle somewhat longer than deep (Ref. 43912). In general appearance and coloration pattern, S. angolensis closely resembles S. bocagii from the Lower Quanza; S. angolensis is distinguished from this species by the higher number of vertebrae (47 non-fused vertebrae against 41-45 in S. bocagii), by its narrow rounded head which is much broader in S.bocagii, and by the long pectoral and dorsal spines which are shorter in S. bocagii. Schilbe angolensis is only known from the Upper Quanza, while S. bocagii is known from the Lower Quanza, below a series of cataracts situated above Dondo (Ref. 43912).

Coloration: in alcohol: back and head brownish, sides and belly silvery white; dark lateral streak along lateral line; stripe starting below pectoral blotch down towards anal fin, inconspicuous continuing above anal fin and ending at base of caudal; brownish band formed of minute dusky dots at base and one at edge of anal fin; base of caudal, pectoral, pelvic and adipose fins faintly speckled (Ref. 43912).