Rattlesnake Coloring Page

This rattlesnake coloring page takes you to the desert. A long tan snake winds across the sand in a big S, with dark diamonds down its back and a rattle held up at the tip of its tail. A tall cactus stands to the left, a hot sun sits in the sky, and two gray rocks rest on the ground.

The diamonds need a steady hand, so this one is best for kids from about six. It takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The snake still has a friendly look, so it will not give anyone bad dreams.

Desert colors that work

Deserts are full of warm, dusty colors. Use a soft tan or light orange for the sand, and let a peach sky fade toward yellow near the sun. For the snake, try a sandy brown with dark brown diamonds. That is close to what a real diamondback looks like, and it shows why these snakes are so hard to see on the ground.

The cactus is your chance for strong color, so use a rich green and add thin dark lines down each arm. Color the rattle in a pale cream, with a thin brown edge on each segment. The rocks only need a light gray with a little shading on one side.

• Do the diamonds first with a sharp pencil.
• Color the body around them in one direction.
• Add small dots to the sand for a gritty look.

How the rattle works

The rattle is made of keratin, the same stuff as your fingernails. It is a stack of hollow, loose pieces that click together when the snake shakes its tail. A new piece is added each time the snake sheds its skin. People often think you can tell a snake's age by counting them, but that does not work, since pieces also break off.

The sound is a warning. It means the snake wants you to go away. Rattlesnakes live only in the Americas, from southern Canada down to South America. Learn more in this Wikipedia article on rattlesnakes.

Stay safe around real snakes

This is a good moment for a short safety talk, especially if your family hikes. Stay on the trail. Look before you step over a log or reach under a rock. If you hear a rattle, stop, find where the sound is coming from and back away slowly. Most bites happen when people try to touch or move a snake, so the best rule is to leave it alone.

Try a desert lesson

Kids can compare this picture with a forest or a beach. What is missing here? There is no shade, not much water and very few plants. Ask how a snake might deal with the heat. Many desert snakes rest under rocks in the day and hunt at night when it is cool.

The cactus is worth a talk too. It stores water in its thick stem, and its spines help protect it. Draw a line across the arm of the cactus on the page and show where the water would sit.

Ways to use this rattlesnake coloring page

Add a roadrunner, a lizard or a jackrabbit to the sand. Write a short report on the back with three facts you learned. For an art project, spread a thin layer of glue on the sand part and sprinkle on real sand. Leave it on a flat table until the sand sticks, then hang it up.

Pattern fans can also change the diamonds. Make each one a new color and see if you can keep a repeat going from head to tail.

Two more snakes to color

Pick the coiled snake page for a younger sibling, or try the jungle tree snake. You can find more in our animal coloring pages.

Questions