How to Draw a Mosasaurus: Easy 9-Step Dinosaur Guide

Ready to bring a prehistoric sea monster to life? This guide is perfect for young artists ages 6+ who love dinosaurs. Grab a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to start building your own aquatic reptile, step by step.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished cartoon Mosasaurus swimming in the ocean.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eye and Brow

Close-up sketch of a Mosasaurus eye with a defined brow ridge and pupil.

Draw a half-circle for the eye and shade in a round pupil. Add curved lines above for the brow ridge. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light here so you can easily adjust the shape if needed.

Step 2: Defining the Upper Snout

Drawing the upper jaw of the Mosasaurus with sharp, triangular teeth.

Extend a long, curved line from the brow to form the snout, doubling it back to create the top jaw. Add small triangles for the upper teeth. Tip: Make the teeth look sharp by keeping the triangles narrow.

Step 3: Creating the Lower Jaw

Adding the lower jaw and bottom teeth to the Mosasaurus sketch.

Draw a curved line extending from the back of the mouth to form the lower jaw. Add more triangular teeth along this bottom edge. Tip: Ensure the jaw looks wide enough to fit the top teeth inside when the mouth closes.

Step 4: Adding Nostrils and Tongue

Detailing the Mosasaurus face with a nostril and a visible tongue.

Add a small teardrop shape on the snout for the nostril and draw a curved tongue inside the mouth. Tip: A little detail like the nostril makes your dinosaur look much more realistic.

Step 5: Sketching the Neck and Flipper

Drawing the neck and the first large front flipper of the Mosasaurus.

Draw a curved line from the jaw to form the neck, then add a large, paddle-shaped flipper. Tip: Mosasaurus flippers are similar to sea turtle fins; keep the edges smooth and rounded.

Step 6: Drawing the Belly and Rear Flipper

Adding the belly line and the smaller rear flipper to the body.

Extend a long line for the belly and add a smaller rear flipper. Tip: The rear flipper should be slightly smaller than the front one to show perspective.

Step 7: Forming the Tail and Back

Sketching the jagged back ridge and the beginning of the long tail.

Use a jagged line along the back to show texture, then start sketching the long, powerful tail. Tip: Leave the end of the tail open for now; we will finish that in the next step.

Step 8: Completing the Tail Fin

Finishing the tail fin with sharp, pointed lines.

Finish the tail by drawing a series of curved lines that meet at sharp points to create a fin. Tip: Use quick, confident strokes to make the fin look like it's moving through water.

Step 9: Final Touches

Finalizing the outline with the last flipper and back ridges.

Add the final foreflipper and refine the scalloped ridge along the back. Tip: Erase any overlapping guide lines to make your drawing look clean and professional.

Color Your Mosasaurus

A fully colored, finished Mosasaurus illustration.

Now for the fun part! Use shades of gray or blue. Since we don't know their exact colors, try a 'countershading' technique: use a darker color on the top and a lighter color on the belly, just like a modern shark.