In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Manta Ray in 6 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 Manta Ray.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Manta Ray - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Manta rays are aquatic 'filter feeders' who eat very small animals by flitering them out of the water they swim through. To start drawing one, make two curved points, that are connected by a curved line. Add a small hump to the right of the first point, and add a smooth curving line below the other.
Step 2: Now draw a circle to make the eye on the hump behind the first point. Then, draw a downward curve between the two points to make the Manta's large mouth.
Step 3: Next, draw the belly by drawing a smooth line that curves down and to the back behind the lower point that you've drawn.
Step 4: Let's make one of the big 'wings,' by drawing a long line that curves up, and then slants, before turning back and down towards the belly you drew before.
Step 5: Now add the gills. It's just one half-oval in the middle of the body, with two sets of 5 lines drawing to either side for the gills.
Step 6: Now draw a bold, long, pointed line on the very back to make the tail, and you're done!
Interesting Facts about Manta Rays
Manta rays live in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Manta rays are spotted near shores and out in the open sea. They have been around for millions of years.
Did You Know?
- Manta rays are closely related to sharks.
- Manta rays can be as long as 25 feet and weigh as much as 5,000 pounds.
- The word “manta” is Spanish for “blanket,” which describes the shape of the manta ray’s body. The top part of its body is grey or black, and its underside is white.
- Manta rays are filter feeders, meaning that they pass food and water through their mouths and into a special filtering system in their body. It filters out the water and digests any food.
- Baby manta rays are called pups. Females give birth to one or two pups at a time. When pups are born, they are about 45 inches wide and weigh about 20 pounds.
Manta rays are known to be acrobats in the water. They do flips. They also “fly” out of the water using their wing-like fins. It is believed that they move around in these ways in order to attract a mate. They also probably do it just for fun.
How To Draw A Manta Ray – Step-by-Step Tutorial