How to Draw a Saurolophus (Easy Step by Step)
Learn to draw a friendly, chubby Saurolophus using easy, soft, round shapes. You'll start with its duck-bill snout and round head, then add its body, tail, feet, and spikes.
- Begin by drawing a flat duck-bill snout and a round head.
- Add a big, round belly and a sloping tail to its body.
- Complete your dinosaur with tiny feet and a row of bumpy spikes.
- Utilize soft, round shapes for an easy, beginner-friendly drawing.
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This chubby little saurolophus looks a bit like a duck-billed baby dinosaur, and it is made almost entirely from soft, round shapes. You will start with a flat duck-bill snout and a round head, then add a big belly, a sloping tail, tiny feet, and a row of bumpy spikes. It is a friendly first dinosaur for beginners.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a saurolophus step by step
How to Draw a Saurolophus · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: Head and snout
Start at the bottom of the snout and draw a wide, flat duck-bill shape on the left. Then curve up and over in a big rounded arch for the top of the head, and stop at the back of the head.
Step 3: Neck and body
Draw a short curved line down the back of the neck on the right. Then start under the chin and curve down and around the bottom to make a big chubby belly, ending on the right side.
Step 4: Back and tail
Start at the back of the neck and draw a bumpy slope down and to the right. Keep going until the line reaches the end of the belly curve and makes a rounded tail point.
Step 5: Two little feet
At the bottom of the body, draw two short, rounded boots like little bumps. Close each one with a flat line along the ground.
Step 6: The head crest
On top of the head, draw two small bumpy arches side by side that look like a tiny crown.
Step 7: Neck spikes
Along the back of the neck, add two rounded bumps that look like little fins. Make each one a curve that starts and ends on the back line.
Step 8: The tail spike
Near the base of the tail, draw a rounded bump that curves up and back down to the back line. Add a short line inside it for a fold.
Step 9: Eye and nostril
Draw a round, solid dot for the eye in the middle of the head. Add a tiny dot on the snout for the nostril.
Step 10: The tiny arm
On the middle of the body, draw a curved line shaped like a hook or a smile with a little curl at one end. This is the little arm tucked against the tummy.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your saurolophus? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a T. rex or how to draw a triceratops next.
Tips for drawing a saurolophus
- Sketch the head and body as light ovals first, so the snout and neck line up before you draw the final lines.
- Draw the tail as one smooth slope from the neck to the belly, then add the small spike near the base of the tail.
- Keep the bumps along the back about the same size so they look like a neat row.
Free saurolophus coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this saurolophus 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 saurolophus drawing
Try soft greens or teal for the body with a lighter color on the tummy, and bright colors for the head crest and the back spikes. For a creative twist, give your dinosaur polka dots or stripes, or draw a little leafy jungle behind it.
Saurolophus fun fact for kids
Saurolophus was a real duck-billed dinosaur that lived about 70 million years ago. Its name means "lizard crest," and fossils of it have been found in both Mongolia and Canada.
Questions about drawing a saurolophus
What shapes do I need to draw a saurolophus?
You need a round head with a flat duck-bill snout, a big chubby body, and a few small curved bumps for the crest and spikes. The feet are two little rounded bumps.
How do I make my saurolophus look cuter?
Make the head extra big and the eye a large round dot. Keep the arm and feet small.
How long does it take to draw a saurolophus?
Most kids finish in about 10 to 15 minutes. Take your time with the back spikes, and use a pencil first so you can erase.
