How to Draw the Skeleton of a Frog

Frogs belong to the class 'Amphibia,' characterizing in dual breathing mechanism, skin as well as lungs. The structure of its skeleton is quite simple to draw. The vertical symmetry makes it even easier to construct the details. The following systematic guide will take you through some easy phases to draw your sitting frog skeleton:

• Reference. The first and most important step is to obtain a skeletal model or image of the frog. Apart from biology books or journals, you can also search the internet, where you can find a bigger collection of images. Keep your precision drawing tools, pencils, eraser, and sharpener ready.

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• Skull. The skull is the most complex part of the skeleton. Mark a small vertical line. Draw a small circle on the line in such a way that it forms the diameter. Keeping this as a base, draw the outlines of the 'premaxillary' (in the front that extends up to the nasal passage) and 'maxillary' on the either side. You can look at each side as a large-angled arch. The final shape will look like the smaller end of an egg. The 'quadratojugal' extends below the maxillary and continues its arch. Sketch the 'sqamosal' bone as an angular end of the quadratojugal. The 'ethmoid' and 'frontoparietal' complete the central structure.

• Abdomen. The central vertebra is the simplest part of the skeleton of a frog. Place ten vertebral columns on the rib. Of these, keep the above two broader than the rest. The lower end of each of the columns is slightly convex. The lower portion of a rib is a straight bone, known as 'coccyx.' The bones on either side of the coccyx form a blunt 'V-like' shape, which is closed at the upper end by obtuse-angled bones. Terminate the midrib with a pointed bone, the 'pubis-ischium.'

• Limbs. The limbs of a frog primarily have three joints. The frontal limbs are visibly smaller and less angular than the hind limbs. The transverse section of a frog's skeleton features the 'suprascapula,' hiding away the 'scapula' around the joint of the front legs. The upper and lower leg bones are easy to draw. Create the bones of the forwardly placed feet as much smaller, almost half the size, than the backwardly placed ones. Mark 2-4 joints in each of the fingers. Of course, the longest fingers have the largest number of joints. Be extra careful in replicating the exact number of joints as in your 3D model or picture. Draw the almond shaped combination of the 'calcaneum' and the 'astragalus' bones as the upper portion of the hind feet.

The skeletons of animals usually take form of scientific diagrams and do not feature very elaborate shading effects. However, you may make extra pencil marks along the length of the bones and near the joints to bring out the presence of light.

How to Draw the Skeleton of a Frog

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. Please visit the website at http://www.Labedzki-Art.com It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited.

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