Dolphin Splashing Its Tail in the Water Coloring Page

Drawn in strict profile facing left, this dolphin lies along the surface and brings its broad tail flukes down hard onto the water. A pair of wavy lines marks the surface and three loose bubbles drift up on the right. The body is one long open shape from beak to tail with very little inside it.

The behavior has a name. Lobtailing is a real dolphin and whale signal, a hard slap of the flukes that carries a long way underwater, and animals use it to get attention or to herd fish into a tighter ball.

Because the pose is horizontal, this one prints well in landscape if your printer allows it, and it suits a wall or a folder cover better than the upright designs.

Keep the water pale. A light wash under the surface lines, with the area right around the flukes left bare, gives the impression of white water thrown up by the slap, which is the whole point of the drawing. Ages four and up.