How to Draw a Whipper Snapper

In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Whipper Snapper 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 Whipper Snapper.

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

How to Draw a Whipper Snapper - Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Draw a triangle for the head of your whipper snapper. Leave one end open.

Step 2: Then draw the face. Give your fish an eye, mouth, and gills.

Step 3: Now draw the body by drawing two curved lines. Add some line details for the scales.

Step 4: Add the tail. Be sure to draw lines to make it look more real.

Step 5: Draw the upper fin. It is large, and starts off kind of spikey but rounds off toward the end. Add more vertical lines for detail.

Step 6: Add the lower fins. Your whipper snapper is complete! In nature, these fish travel in schools and are a silvery pink grey.

Interesting Facts about the Whipper Snapper

Whipper Snappers are carnivorous fish that are found only in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, they are more commonly called Red Snappers or Rufous Snappers. They are a large schooling fish travelling around reefs in huge numbers feeding on invertebrates and other small fishes.

Did you know?

  • The Whipper Snapper is recorded to grow as large as 55 cm.
  • Whipper Snappers are closely related to the five-lined, cubera, and mutton snappers who are all part of the Lutjanus family.
  • Whipper Snapper schools are found over the hard bottoms of inshore reef areas in areas reaching depths of 50 m.
  • Whipper Snappers are easily identified by the long row of finned-spines that run the course of their back.
  • We know almost nothing about Whipper Snapper behavior or breeding grounds.

Lesson plan note: Whipper Snapper schools create a stunning array of colors as they swim through reefs in tight bands. Have students create their own schools of Whipper Snappers by cutting out drawings of Whipper Snappers covered in silver and purple glitter to match their colors. Then hang the school from the classroom ceiling to mimic the schooling patterns of Whipper Snappers.

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