How to Draw a Rattlesnake

In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Rattlesnake in 5 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.

The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.

Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.

At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Rattlesnake.

Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.

How to Draw a Rattlesnake - Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Your first step in drawing a rattlesnake is the body. Rattlesnakes are long and thin, so the body loops around the ground, coming up higher as it gets closer to the head.

Step 2: Draw the head at the top of the body. The snake has a big jaw that opens very wide when it eats.

Step 3: Now let's give the snake an eye. Draw a circle and color it in, then draw a horizontal line through the circle.

Step 4: Next, draw the tail. The rattlesnake's tail is much wider and longer than the rest of the body, and there is a rattle at the end that can shake for up to 3 hours to scare off prey!

Step 5: Last, draw the spots and color your rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes are brown, tan and gray and their spots are shaped like diamonds. Did you know? Rattlesnakes are born with a button at the end of their tails. Every time they shed their skin, another button forms on the end. When they have at least two buttons, their tails are able to make the rattling noise. Over the course of their lives, most rattlesnakes will get between eight and ten buttons on their tails.

Interesting Facts about Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes are poisonous snakes that are members of the Viperidae family. All snakes in this family are venomous and have long fangs that they use to inject venom into their prey. Rattlesnakes live in North, South, and Central America. They are famous for their rattles, of course! The rattle is located at the tail of their bodies and used to scare off predators.

Did you know?

  • There are more than 24 species of rattlesnakes. Most of them live in the southwestern part of the United States and Mexico.
  • All rattlesnakes are brown, tan, or gray, with skin that has a diamond-shaped pattern.
  • The rattlesnake’s diet includes mice, small birds, and rats.
  • Rattlesnakes grow to be about three to four feet long.
  • Rattlesnakes only eat when they are hungry. Adults usually eat every two weeks, while younger rattlesnakes eat once a week.

Rattlesnakes are born with one ring, called a button or segment, when they are born. Each time they shed their skin, one more button is formed. These buttons are the parts of the rattle. Rattlesnakes need at least two buttons to make the rattling noise. Most rattlesnakes have between eight and ten buttons.

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