How to Draw a Platypus (Easy Step by Step)
A platypus looks like a mix of a duck, a beaver, and an otter, which makes it a funny and friendly thing to draw. This drawing is built from simple shapes: one big oval for the body, a long flat bill, a round paddle tail, and four little bucket-shaped feet.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a platypus step by step
How to Draw a Platypus · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The body
Draw a big, wide oval lying on its side, like a loaf of bread. Leave a small gap in the left side where the bill will join.
Step 3: The bill
On the left side of the body, draw a long, flat shape that sticks out like a duck's beak. Start the top and bottom lines at the gap in the body and curve them together into a rounded tip.
Step 4: The tail
On the right side, draw a round, puffy paddle shape like a beaver tail. Start and end its lines on the body's edge so the tail looks attached.
Step 5: Feet, eye, and smile
Draw four short, chunky feet hanging down from the belly, each shaped like a little upside-down bucket. Add a small wiggly line inside each foot for toes. Then put a round dot for the eye and a small curved smile on the face.
Step 6: Nostrils and mouth line
Draw two tiny dots near the top of the bill for nostrils. Then draw one long straight line along the bill, from the tip toward the face, to show the mouth.
Step 7: Tail pattern
Inside the tail, draw a big X made of two crossing lines. Add one or two short lines beside it so the tail looks like it has a crisscross pattern.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your platypus? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a goose or how to draw a bearded dragon next.
Tips for drawing a platypus
- Make the body oval wider than it is tall, so the platypus looks low and long. Draw it lightly first so you can fix the shape.
- The bill is the trickiest part. Start with a long flat shape, then round off the tip, and add the nostrils and mouth line last.
- Draw all four feet at about the same height so the platypus stands steady. Add a small wiggly line inside each foot for toes.
Free platypus coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this platypus coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your platypus drawing
Try warm brown for the body and tail, and a darker gray-brown for the bill and feet. For a creative twist, color the tail's crisscross pattern in rainbow stripes, or draw a stream of blue water around the feet.
Platypus fun fact for kids
A platypus is one of the very few mammals that lays eggs. It lives in streams in Australia and uses its soft bill to feel for food underwater with its eyes closed.
Questions about drawing a platypus
What shapes do I need to draw a platypus?
You need a big oval for the body, a long flat shape for the bill, and a round paddle for the tail. Four small bucket shapes make the feet.
How do I make my platypus look cuter?
Draw the eye as a round dot and add a small curved smile. Making the feet extra chunky also gives it a sweet, cuddly look.
How do I draw the platypus tail?
Draw a round paddle on the right side of the body, like a beaver tail. Then add a big X inside it with a couple of short lines for the crisscross pattern.
