How to Draw an Armadillo (Easy Step by Step)
An armadillo is a fun drawing because its body is mostly one big dome with stripes across it. You only need a dome, a pointy snout, a few curved lines, four U shapes for legs, and two leaf-shaped ears. It is a friendly shape that is easy to get right.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw an armadillo step by step
How to Draw an Armadillo · 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 shell body
Draw a big dome like half of an egg, with a flat, gently curved line along the bottom. Leave a gap on the right side, where the head will go.
Step 3: Head, snout and first ear
At the gap on the right, draw a small head that slopes down into a long pointy snout, like a triangle with soft corners. Add one tall, thin, pointy ear standing up on top of the head.
Step 4: The tail
At the bottom left corner of the shell, draw a thick curvy tail that bends down like a sleepy banana. Close it with a rounded tip.
Step 5: Four stubby legs
Under the belly line, draw four short legs, each one shaped like an upside-down U. Make the two on the right a little higher than the two on the left.
Step 6: Shell bands
Draw three curved lines from the top of the shell down to the belly, like slices of a melon. Make each one bend the same way so they look like armor plates.
Step 7: Second ear and eye
Draw a second small leaf-shaped ear right next to the first one. Add a small dot for the eye near the snout.
Step 8: Tail stripes
Add two short lines across the tail to show its bumpy armor.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your armadillo? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing an armadillo
- Draw the dome in one smooth swoop and don't worry if it wobbles. The stripes will hide small bumps.
- Make all the shell bands curve in the same direction so they look like neat armor plates.
- Draw the legs as upside-down U shapes, with the two on the right a little higher than the two on the left. Start each one at the belly line so it connects properly.
Free armadillo coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this armadillo 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 armadillo drawing
Try warm grays and browns for the shell, with pink for the ears, nose and tail. For a creative twist, color each shell band a different rainbow color.
Armadillo fun fact for kids
The nine-banded armadillo almost always has babies in a set of four that are identical to each other.
Questions about drawing an armadillo
What shapes do I need to draw an armadillo?
You need a big dome for the shell, a triangle with soft corners for the pointy snout, a curved tube for the tail, and four U shapes for the legs. Two thin leaf shapes make the ears.
How do I make my armadillo look cuter?
Make the eye dot a bit bigger and keep the legs short and stubby. A round shell also makes it look cuddly.
How do I draw the shell stripes so they look right?
Start each stripe at the top edge of the dome and curve it down to the belly. Space the three bands out evenly and make them all bend the same way.
