How to Draw a Triceratops Skeleton

Step 1: The skull

On the left draw a long bony skull: a sloping top, a hooked beak and a flat bottom.

Tip A skeleton is the bones inside: skull, backbone, ribs, hips and legs.

Step 2: Eye hole and jaw

Draw an oval eye hole near the back and a tiny nostril by the beak. Add a thin jaw underneath.

Step 3: Three horns

Draw 2 long pointed horns on top of the skull, curving forward. Add 1 short horn on the nose.

Tip The second long horn peeks out from behind the first.

Step 4: The frill

Start behind the horns. Draw a big round frill up, back and around to the skull's bottom corner.

Tip The frill is a bony shield behind the head.

Step 5: The backbone

Start behind the frill. Draw the backbone along the back and down the tail. Stop near the right edge.

Tip The back is level, then the tail droops down.

Step 6: Hip and shoulder

Where the tail starts draw an oval hip bone on the backbone. Add a smaller shoulder oval under the frill.

Step 7: Back bones

Between the frill and the hip draw 4 little ovals sitting on the backbone, like beads on a string.

Step 8: Tail bones

Along the tail draw 6 more ovals, getting smaller and smaller toward the tip.

Step 9: Front leg

From the shoulder draw a bone down to a round knee, another bone down, then a 3-toed foot.

Tip Each bone is a stick, fat at both ends and thin in the middle.

Step 10: Back leg

From the hip draw a thigh bone forward to a knee, a shin back down, then a 3-toed foot.

Step 11: Far legs

Draw 2 more legs the same way: one just in front of the front leg, one behind the back leg.

Step 12: Ribs

Start on the back bones. Draw 4 curved ribs hanging down, ending in the air.

Tip Like the bars of a cage.

Step 13: The ground

Start at the left side of the paper. Draw one long line under the toes across to the right side.

Step 14: Cream bones, grey holes

Colour all the bones cream. Colour the eye hole and the nostril grey. Your triceratops skeleton is done!