How to Draw an Ankylosaurus: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to bring a prehistoric armored tank to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. Grab your pencil, eraser, and paper to master this dinosaur's unique shape and iconic tail club.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Beak and Face

Close-up of an Ankylosaurus face sketch showing the beak, eye, and nostril placement.

Draw a rounded diamond shape to form the dinosaur's beak. Add two small ovals for nostrils and a half-circle for the eye. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil lines light so you can easily erase the overlap later when adding the head details.

Step 2: Adding the Head Spikes

Drawing the head spikes of the Ankylosaurus using rounded triangular shapes.

Sketch three rounded triangles around the back of the head. Connect them with smooth, curved lines. Teacher's Tip: Think of these as little horns; make sure the base of each triangle is slightly wider to show depth.

Step 3: Outlining the Armored Plates

Sketching the side armor plates and spikes on the dinosaur's body.

Add a series of curved triangles along the side of the body. Use long, sweeping lines to connect them into armored plates. Teacher's Tip: Vary the size of your triangles to make the armor look more natural and textured.

Step 4: Building the Armor Layers

Adding a second layer of spikes to the Ankylosaurus back armor.

Draw a second, higher row of smaller spikes on the back plates. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about making them perfectly symmetrical; real dinosaur armor was rugged and irregular!

Step 5: Defining the Chest and Front Leg

Drawing the chest line and the beginning of the front leg structure.

Add three more rows of spikes along the back. Extend a curved line from the head down to create the chest and the start of the front leg. Teacher's Tip: Use a smooth, continuous motion for the chest line to give the dinosaur a sturdy look.

Step 6: Drawing the Belly and Toes

Adding the belly line and front foot details with triangular toes.

Draw the belly and the rear leg using overlapping curves. Add four triangular toes to the front foot. Teacher's Tip: Connect the toes with small 'V' shapes to make them look like sturdy claws.

Step 7: Completing the Legs

Completing the rear and front legs with detailed claw shapes.

Finish the rear leg and the remaining foreleg with more triangular toes. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the legs look thick and strong to support the weight of the dinosaur's armor.

Step 8: The Iconic Tail Club

Drawing the heavy, bulbous tail club characteristic of the Ankylosaurus.

Extend two long lines to form the tail, ending in a bulbous, three-lobed club. Add four small spikes underneath. Teacher's Tip: The tail club is the Ankylosaurus's best defense—make it look heavy and solid!

Step 9: Final Contours and Details

Refining the final outline and adding contour details to the dinosaur's body.

Add final spikes to the tail and refine the contours of the shoulders and ankles. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker pencil stroke for these final lines to make your drawing pop.

Step 10: Coloring Your Dinosaur

A fully colored, friendly cartoon Ankylosaurus drawing.

Your outline is finished! Use earthy tones like browns, reds, or greens to color your Ankylosaurus. Teacher's Tip: Try using two shades of brown—a light one for the base and a darker one for the spikes—to create a realistic 3D effect.