Sea Creature Coloring Pages (Free PDF Printables)

By: Papaya Ink Team · Last updated: October 19, 2026

Most sea creature coloring pages stop at a smiling octopus and a fish with eyelashes. These do not. Every animal here is a real species drawn the way it actually looks – the seals, sea lions and walruses that haul out on rocks and ice, the sea cows that graze underwater meadows, the turtles, the jellyfish, the octopus – and every page has the species name printed under the picture. Color one and you have also learned that a gray seal has a Roman nose, that a dugong carries a whale's tail, and that a fur seal and a true seal are not the same animal. We keep adding species, so the page is worth a return visit.

Click any picture and the PDF opens in a new tab, ready to print on US Letter; it fits A4 just as well with no cropping. The line art is drawn for a home printer – black outlines, white paper, no gray tones to muddy the ink – and the detail is pitched for older kids and adults, with a few simpler animals for younger hands.

If you want the colors right, each caption below tells you what the living animal looks like, from the blotchy gray of a harbor seal to the rust red of a giant octopus. Seals and sea lions are mostly browns and grays, so the interest is in the texture: short strokes for fur, long smooth strokes for wet skin, and a pale belly on almost everything. Leave the paper white for the sun glare on wet backs and the ice, and use the lightest blue you own for water – the animals should stay the darkest thing on the page.

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Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The green sea turtle is not green on the outside. The name comes from a layer of green fat under the shell, built from a lifetime of eating seagrass. Shell in olive and brown streaks, skin a soft gray-green. — The green sea turtle is not green on the outside. The name comes from a layer of green fat under the shell, built from a lifetime of eating seagrass. Shell in olive and brown streaks, skin a soft gray-green.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Despite the name, the Cape fur seal from southern Africa is really a sea lion in a thick coat. Under the coarse guard hairs is velvety underfur that never gets wet. Color it gray-brown with a paler throat, and keep the rocks cool gray. — Despite the name, the Cape fur seal from southern Africa is really a sea lion in a thick coat. Under the coarse guard hairs is velvety underfur that never gets wet. Color it gray-brown with a paler throat, and keep the rocks cool gray.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Look at the tail: it is notched like a whale's, which is how you tell a dugong from a manatee. It spends its days plowing through seagrass with that downturned snout. An even slate gray is accurate, slightly paler below, over bright green grass. — Look at the tail: it is notched like a whale's, which is how you tell a dugong from a manatee. It spends its days plowing through seagrass with that downturned snout. An even slate gray is accurate, slightly paler below, over bright green grass.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Three hearts, blue blood and arms that can taste what they touch. The giant Pacific octopus is the largest of its kind and changes both color and skin texture in a blink. Rust red to brick is its resting shade, with cream suckers. Detailed. — Three hearts, blue blood and arms that can taste what they touch. The giant Pacific octopus is the largest of its kind and changes both color and skin texture in a blink. Rust red to brick is its resting shade, with cream suckers. Detailed.

The long, straight profile earned the gray seal its scientific name, which translates roughly as hook-nosed sea pig. Flattering. The coat is pale gray with dark blotches on females and the reverse on males, so pick a sex and commit.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Nostrils that meet in a V and a round, curious face: this is the seal you are most likely to meet on an American coast, hauled out and watching you back. Spots in brown or gray over a lighter base; no two harbor seals match. — Nostrils that meet in a V and a round, curious face: this is the seal you are most likely to meet on an American coast, hauled out and watching you back. Spots in brown or gray over a lighter base; no two harbor seals match.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Born snow white on the ice, a harp seal grows into this: silver gray with a black face and a black harp-shaped saddle across the back, drawn here in full. Keep the body pale, let the saddle do the work, and leave the floe white. — Born snow white on the ice, a harp seal grows into this: silver gray with a black face and a black harp-shaped saddle across the back, drawn here in full. Keep the body pale, let the saddle do the work, and leave the floe white.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The Hawaiian name means dog that runs in rough water, and the face explains why. One of the rarest seals anywhere, it still basks on quiet island beaches. Silvery gray on the back fading to cream underneath, with the mountains in soft blue behind. — The Hawaiian name means dog that runs in rough water, and the face explains why. One of the rarest seals anywhere, it still basks on quiet island beaches. Silvery gray on the back fading to cream underneath, with the mountains in soft blue behind.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Only the male has that balloon on his head, and he inflates it on purpose to impress. He can even blow a red bladder out of one nostril, which thankfully is not pictured. Blue-gray with scattered black patches, the hood a darker gray. — Only the male has that balloon on his head, and he inflates it on purpose to impress. He can even blow a red bladder out of one nostril, which thankfully is not pictured. Blue-gray with scattered black patches, the hood a darker gray.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Long, lean and built for speed, with a head that looks more reptile than mammal. The leopard seal patrols the Antarctic pack ice. Charcoal along the back, silver below, and the spots that give it the name are thickest on the throat. Detailed. — Long, lean and built for speed, with a head that looks more reptile than mammal. The leopard seal patrols the Antarctic pack ice. Charcoal along the back, silver below, and the spots that give it the name are thickest on the throat. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - That oversized head holds jaws strong enough to crack conch shells and crabs, its usual dinner. The shell is reddish brown, closer to a chestnut than to any green, and the skin runs tan to yellow. — That oversized head holds jaws strong enough to crack conch shells and crabs, its usual dinner. The shell is reddish brown, closer to a chestnut than to any green, and the skin runs tan to yellow.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The four horseshoes showing through the bell are internal organs, on view because the whole animal is nearly transparent. Color it almost nothing: the palest lavender or pink wash, a hint of blue at the rim, and white paper doing most of the work. — The four horseshoes showing through the bell are internal organs, on view because the whole animal is nearly transparent. Color it almost nothing: the palest lavender or pink wash, a hint of blue at the rim, and white paper doing most of the work.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The nose is the point. A bull northern elephant seal grows that trunk to amplify his roar on the beach, and he dives nearly a mile deep to feed. Brownish gray all over, with the rough neck a shade darker. Detailed. — The nose is the point. A bull northern elephant seal grows that trunk to amplify his roar on the beach, and he dives nearly a mile deep to feed. Brownish gray all over, with the rough neck a shade darker. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Some of the thickest fur of any mammal, so dense that water never reaches the skin. The northern fur seal props itself up on long flippers, chest out, as if posing. Brown to near black on a male, with a gray frosting over the shoulders. — Some of the thickest fur of any mammal, so dense that water never reaches the skin. The northern fur seal props itself up on long flippers, chest out, as if posing. Brown to near black on a male, with a gray frosting over the shoulders.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Floating on its back is the whole lifestyle: the sea otter eats, sleeps and grooms up there, wrapped in kelp so it does not drift off. Rich brown fur, a pale cream face, and the kelp strands in olive green around it. — Floating on its back is the whole lifestyle: the sea otter eats, sleeps and grooms up there, wrapped in kelp so it does not drift off. Rich brown fur, a pale cream face, and the kelp strands in olive green around it.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The biggest of all sea lions, and the bull wears a thick mane on his neck that gives the family its name. Light tan to reddish brown is correct, darker on the flippers, and the barnacles on the rock can stay white. — The biggest of all sea lions, and the bull wears a thick mane on his neck that gives the family its name. Light tan to reddish brown is correct, darker on the flippers, and the barnacles on the rock can stay white.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Both sexes grow the tusks, which are just very long canine teeth, used mostly as hooks to haul the body up onto ice. A walrus in cold water is nearly white; warmed up on the ice it flushes to pinkish brown. Keep the whiskers dark. — Both sexes grow the tusks, which are just very long canine teeth, used mostly as hooks to haul the body up onto ice. A walrus in cold water is nearly white; warmed up on the ice it flushes to pinkish brown. Keep the whiskers dark.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - This is the seal that lives farthest south of any mammal, under the Antarctic ice, and keeps its breathing holes open by chewing. Mottled slate over a silvery belly, and the eyes almost black against the pale face. — This is the seal that lives farthest south of any mammal, under the Antarctic ice, and keeps its breathing holes open by chewing. Mottled slate over a silvery belly, and the eyes almost black against the pale face.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - A Florida manatee moves at the pace of a slow walk and spends most of the day eating. The split upper lip grabs seagrass like a hand. Plain gray, often with a greenish tint on the back where algae grows, over bright green grass. — A Florida manatee moves at the pace of a slow walk and spends most of the day eating. The split upper lip grabs seagrass like a hand. Plain gray, often with a greenish tint on the back where algae grows, over bright green grass.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Callinectes sapidus translates as beautiful savory swimmer, and the last word is earned: the flattened back legs work as paddles. Olive to blue-green on top. Then check the claw tips - bright blue on a male, red on a female, as if painted. — Callinectes sapidus translates as beautiful savory swimmer, and the last word is earned: the flattened back legs work as paddles. Olive to blue-green on top. Then check the claw tips – bright blue on a male, red on a female, as if painted.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - She grows as long as a sofa; he stays about as big as a walnut. The female is the one pictured. That cape is a web she unfurls between her arms. Go iridescent here - violet, cobalt and a streak of gold. — She grows as long as a sofa; he stays about as big as a walnut. The female is the one pictured. That cape is a web she unfurls between her arms. Go iridescent here – violet, cobalt and a streak of gold.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Behind the opening of the coil sit dozens of sealed chambers; by shifting gas and liquid in them, the nautilus rises and sinks like a submarine. Its ancestors swam before the dinosaurs. Rust-red tiger stripes on cream, spots on the hood. — Behind the opening of the coil sit dozens of sealed chambers; by shifting gas and liquid in them, the nautilus rises and sinks like a submarine. Its ancestors swam before the dinosaurs. Rust-red tiger stripes on cream, spots on the hood.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Caught on film carrying coconut halves across the sand and climbing inside if danger shows up, which makes it one of the few invertebrates known to use tools. The shell it clutches here is that portable house. Warm brown with darker veins, suckers pale. — Caught on film carrying coconut halves across the sand and climbing inside if danger shows up, which makes it one of the few invertebrates known to use tools. The shell it clutches here is that portable house. Warm brown with darker veins, suckers pale.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - A master of camouflage that cannot see color at all, and still matches its surroundings shade for shade. The white oval sold for pet birds is its internal shell, the cuttlebone. Males wear zebra stripes in brown and cream. — A master of camouflage that cannot see color at all, and still matches its surroundings shade for shade. The white oval sold for pet birds is its internal shell, the cuttlebone. Males wear zebra stripes in brown and cream.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Any gap wider than its beak is a door. The common octopus has no bones, so it pours itself through holes a fraction of its size and is a famous escape artist in aquariums. Mottled reddish brown, a little paler on the arms. — Any gap wider than its beak is a door. The common octopus has no bones, so it pours itself through holes a fraction of its size and is a famous escape artist in aquariums. Mottled reddish brown, a little paler on the arms.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Named after a small fishing town in Washington State, this is the crab of West Coast holiday dinners. Alive it is purplish brown on top with cream underneath, and the claw tips are white. It only turns orange in the pot. — Named after a small fishing town in Washington State, this is the crab of West Coast holiday dinners. Alive it is purplish brown on top with cream underneath, and the claw tips are white. It only turns orange in the pot.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Rather than swim, it walks along the bottom on two arms and a pair of flaps, flashing purple, yellow and crimson as it goes. The bright colors are a warning: its flesh is toxic. In real life it would fit in a hand. Go loud. — Rather than swim, it walks along the bottom on two arms and a pair of flaps, flashing purple, yellow and crimson as it goes. The bright colors are a warning: its flesh is toxic. In real life it would fit in a hand. Go loud.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Australia keeps this one to itself: the flatback nests nowhere else and never crosses an ocean, staying above the shallow continental shelf its whole life. Its carapace is the flattest of any sea turtle, edges turned up. Olive gray on top, cream below. — Australia keeps this one to itself: the flatback nests nowhere else and never crosses an ocean, staying above the shallow continental shelf its whole life. Its carapace is the flattest of any sea turtle, edges turned up. Olive gray on top, cream below.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Eyes on stalks give it a view in nearly every direction, and pale sandy armor lets it vanish on a beach the moment it stops running. It even growls, by rubbing ridges on its claw. Sand beige all over, claws a shade whiter. — Eyes on stalks give it a view in nearly every direction, and pale sandy armor lets it vanish on a beach the moment it stops running. It even growls, by rubbing ridges on its claw. Sand beige all over, claws a shade whiter.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - For centuries it was a sailor's story, and nobody filmed one alive in the deep until this century. Its eyes are the size of dinner plates, the biggest of any animal along with its colossal cousin. Brick red to pink, silvery around the eye. — For centuries it was a sailor's story, and nobody filmed one alive in the deep until this century. Its eyes are the size of dinner plates, the biggest of any animal along with its colossal cousin. Brick red to pink, silvery around the eye.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Small enough to sit in a palm, though it is wise never to let it. The rings are a warning sign that flashes electric blue when the octopus is alarmed. Sandy yellow body, and the brightest blue you own in each ring. Detailed. — Small enough to sit in a palm, though it is wise never to let it. The rings are a warning sign that flashes electric blue when the octopus is alarmed. Sandy yellow body, and the brightest blue you own in each ring. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - At night this thumb-sized squid switches on a light organ full of glowing bacteria and shines downward, so a predator looking up sees no shadow. By day it buries itself in sand. Sandy tan with purplish brown freckles. — At night this thumb-sized squid switches on a light organ full of glowing bacteria and shines downward, so a predator looking up sees no shadow. By day it buries itself in sand. Sandy tan with purplish brown freckles.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Look closely at the beak: narrow and hooked, built for prying sponges out of reef cracks, a menu almost nothing else will touch. Its back plates overlap like roof shingles, which gives the rear edge its saw-tooth look. Amber with dark brown and gold flames. — Look closely at the beak: narrow and hooked, built for prying sponges out of reef cracks, a menu almost nothing else will touch. Its back plates overlap like roof shingles, which gives the rear edge its saw-tooth look. Amber with dark brown and gold flames.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Smallest of all the sea turtles, and an odd one: most turtles nest at night, but Kemp's ridley females come ashore in broad daylight, often together. Its shell is nearly round. Olive gray above, pale yellow below. — Smallest of all the sea turtles, and an odd one: most turtles nest at night, but Kemp's ridley females come ashore in broad daylight, often together. Its shell is nearly round. Olive gray above, pale yellow below.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - No hard shell at all. The biggest turtle alive wears thick oily skin over a mosaic of small bones, with ridges running down its back, and eats almost nothing but jellyfish. Near black with white spots; skip the spots and the paper handles them. — No hard shell at all. The biggest turtle alive wears thick oily skin over a mosaic of small bones, with ridges running down its back, and eats almost nothing but jellyfish. Near black with white spots; skip the spots and the paper handles them.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The only lizard in the world that feeds in the sea, grazing algae off rocks in the Galapagos. It gets rid of the extra salt by sneezing it out of its nose. Charcoal to black, with a crust of white on the head. Detailed. — The only lizard in the world that feeds in the sea, grazing algae off rocks in the Galapagos. It gets rid of the extra salt by sneezing it out of its nose. Charcoal to black, with a crust of white on the head. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - When a fish comes looking for lunch, this octopus becomes something else: a flat sole, a venomous lionfish, or a sea snake made of two arms while six hide in a burrow. Divers first noticed it in the late nineties. Chocolate and white bands. — When a fish comes looking for lunch, this octopus becomes something else: a flat sole, a venomous lionfish, or a sea snake made of two arms while six hide in a burrow. Divers first noticed it in the late nineties. Chocolate and white bands.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Count every sea turtle on Earth and the olive ridley wins easily. Its nesting nights are famous: thousands of females land on one beach at once, an event known as the arribada, Spanish for arrival. An olive green carapace, as the name promises. — Count every sea turtle on Earth and the olive ridley wins easily. Its nesting nights are famous: thousands of females land on one beach at once, an event known as the arribada, Spanish for arrival. An olive green carapace, as the name promises.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Neither a vampire nor a squid. It lives where the water holds so little oxygen that few hunters follow, eats drifting marine snow, and when threatened flips its webbed arms over its body like a cloak. Wine red, eyes a startling blue. — Neither a vampire nor a squid. It lives where the water holds so little oxygen that few hunters follow, eats drifting marine snow, and when threatened flips its webbed arms over its body like a cloak. Wine red, eyes a startling blue.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Notice the claws do not match. The heavy one is a crusher for clams and mussels, the slim one a cutter for tearing. Lobster red only arrives with cooking; alive it is a dark greenish brown, with orange at the joints and claw tips. — Notice the claws do not match. The heavy one is a crusher for clams and mussels, the slim one a cutter for tearing. Lobster red only arrives with cooking; alive it is a dark greenish brown, with orange at the joints and claw tips.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Barely the length of a finger, and still the backbone of the Southern Ocean: weigh every krill alive and the total rivals any wild animal species on Earth, which is how blue whales get fed. Glassy body, rosy orange speckles, black eyes. — Barely the length of a finger, and still the backbone of the Southern Ocean: weigh every krill alive and the total rivals any wild animal species on Earth, which is how blue whales get fed. Glassy body, rosy orange speckles, black eyes.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Divers call it the barber pole shrimp, and one look at those red and white stripes explains why. It usually lives in pairs, setting up a cleaning station where fish line up to have parasites picked off. White antennae, longer than the shrimp itself. — Divers call it the barber pole shrimp, and one look at those red and white stripes explains why. It usually lives in pairs, setting up a cleaning station where fish line up to have parasites picked off. White antennae, longer than the shrimp itself.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Along the edge of its mantle sit dozens of tiny bright blue eyes, and when a sea star creeps close the scallop claps its shells and swims away in jerky hops. Mottled gray and brown ribs, with a blush of orange on a lucky find. — Along the edge of its mantle sit dozens of tiny bright blue eyes, and when a sea star creeps close the scallop claps its shells and swims away in jerky hops. Mottled gray and brown ribs, with a blush of orange on a lucky find.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Upside down at the surface, buoyed by a swallowed air bubble, this slug eats Portuguese man o' war and keeps their stinging cells for its own defense. Small, gorgeous and not to be touched. Electric blue and silver, darker at the fringes. — Upside down at the surface, buoyed by a swallowed air bubble, this slug eats Portuguese man o' war and keeps their stinging cells for its own defense. Small, gorgeous and not to be touched. Electric blue and silver, darker at the fringes.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - It holds on to rock through pounding surf with a beard of silky threads glued in place, and that underwater glue has medical researchers taking notes. Blue-black to deep purple outside; the barnacles around it stay chalky gray. — It holds on to rock through pounding surf with a beard of silky threads glued in place, and that underwater glue has medical researchers taking notes. Blue-black to deep purple outside; the barnacles around it stay chalky gray.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Claws? None. Instead it carries a forest of spines and two whip-long antennae that screech when rubbed at the base. Every autumn whole groups march across the sea floor nose to tail in single file. Rusty brown, cream spots, yellow-banded legs. Detailed. — Claws? None. Instead it carries a forest of spines and two whip-long antennae that screech when rubbed at the base. Every autumn whole groups march across the sea floor nose to tail in single file. Rusty brown, cream spots, yellow-banded legs. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Forget the old movie trope: a giant clam closes too slowly to trap anything, let alone a diver. What it does do is farm algae in that wavy mantle and live off the sunlight they catch. Blue, green and violet patterns on a cream shell. — Forget the old movie trope: a giant clam closes too slowly to trap anything, let alone a diver. What it does do is farm algae in that wavy mantle and live off the sunlight they catch. Blue, green and violet patterns on a cream shell.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Imagine a pill bug the size of a house cat, then send it to the deep sea floor. Giant isopods scavenge whatever sinks from above and can go years between meals. Pale lilac gray, a little darker on the plates, and black reflective eyes. — Imagine a pill bug the size of a house cat, then send it to the deep sea floor. Giant isopods scavenge whatever sinks from above and can go years between meals. Pale lilac gray, a little darker on the plates, and black reflective eyes.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Orange and red striped legs gave this reef crab its holiday name. Like every hermit crab it lives in a borrowed snail shell and moves house whenever it outgrows one. Do the leg stripes first; the shell can be any sandy shade. — Orange and red striped legs gave this reef crab its holiday name. Like every hermit crab it lives in a borrowed snail shell and moves house whenever it outgrows one. Do the leg stripes first; the shell can be any sandy shade.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Petal-shaped claws make it look delicate, but this shrimp eats one thing only: sea stars. A pair will flip a star over and dine on it for days. Cream with blotches of pink, violet or blue, each ringed in a darker edge. Detailed. — Petal-shaped claws make it look delicate, but this shrimp eats one thing only: sea stars. A pair will flip a star over and dine on it for days. Cream with blotches of pink, violet or blue, each ringed in a darker edge. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Measured tip to tip, its legs reach about as far as a small car is long - the widest span of any arthropod alive. The body itself would fit on a serving tray. Orange legs with white speckles, and a knobby, warty back. — Measured tip to tip, its legs reach about as far as a small car is long – the widest span of any arthropod alive. The body itself would fit on a serving tray. Orange legs with white speckles, and a knobby, warty back.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Count the holes: that row is how an abalone breathes, and as the animal grows, new holes open at the front while old ones seal behind. Turn one over and the inside is pure rainbow mother-of-pearl. Outside, brick red to olive brown. — Count the holes: that row is how an abalone breathes, and as the animal grows, new holes open at the front while old ones seal behind. Turn one over and the inside is pure rainbow mother-of-pearl. Outside, brick red to olive brown.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - A fish swims up, opens its mouth and waits; this shrimp climbs inside and picks its teeth clean. It will try the same on a diver's hand. Yellow sides, a scarlet stripe down the back split by a fine white line, pale antennae. — A fish swims up, opens its mouth and waits; this shrimp climbs inside and picks its teeth clean. It will try the same on a diver's hand. Yellow sides, a scarlet stripe down the back split by a fine white line, pale antennae.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Oysters can switch between male and female more than once in a lifetime. An adult also filters about a bathtub of seawater a day, cleaning the bay as it feeds. Gray and purple streaks on the rough shell, pearly white inside. — Oysters can switch between male and female more than once in a lifetime. An adult also filters about a bathtub of seawater a day, cleaning the bay as it feeds. Gray and purple streaks on the rough shell, pearly white inside.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Its punch moves so fast that the water around the club briefly boils. The eyes are stranger still: each swivels on its own and senses polarized light, invisible to us. Green body, orange legs, a leopard-spotted chest and a blue tail fan. Detailed. — Its punch moves so fast that the water around the club briefly boils. The eyes are stranger still: each swivels on its own and senses polarized light, invisible to us. Green body, orange legs, a leopard-spotted chest and a blue tail fan. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Peering out on long stalks, those eyes belong to a sea snail that gets around by hopping, pushing off with a hard, curved hook. A grown shell flares into a lip of glossy pink that collectors love. Sandy tan outside, salmon in the opening. — Peering out on long stalks, those eyes belong to a sea snail that gets around by hopping, pushing off with a hard, curved hook. A grown shell flares into a lip of glossy pink that collectors love. Sandy tan outside, salmon in the opening.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - The flat plates on its face are not claws but antennae, reshaped into shovels for digging in sand. It looks like something stepped on it, which is exactly why it hides so well. Tan to brown with orange speckles. — The flat plates on its face are not claws but antennae, reshaped into shovels for digging in sand. It looks like something stepped on it, which is exactly why it hides so well. Tan to brown with orange speckles.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Watch one swim and the edges of its body ripple like the ruffled skirt of a flamenco dancer, which is the whole name. On its back is a feathery plume of gills. Scarlet to crimson with a white or pale pink rim along the ruffles. — Watch one swim and the edges of its body ripple like the ruffled skirt of a flamenco dancer, which is the whole name. On its back is a feathery plume of gills. Scarlet to crimson with a white or pale pink rim along the ruffles.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - That porcelain shine is no accident: the living animal wraps the shell in its mantle and polishes it constantly. Relatives of this cowrie were once used as money across Africa and Asia. Cream background, chocolate brown spots, a tan stripe down the top. — That porcelain shine is no accident: the living animal wraps the shell in its mantle and polishes it constantly. Relatives of this cowrie were once used as money across Africa and Asia. Cream background, chocolate brown spots, a tan stripe down the top.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - It looks like one creature, but every winding groove is lined with thousands of tiny polyps working together, and a big dome can be centuries old. It grows only a few millimeters a year. Tan, honey brown or soft green, with paler ridges. — It looks like one creature, but every winding groove is lined with thousands of tiny polyps working together, and a big dome can be centuries old. It grows only a few millimeters a year. Tan, honey brown or soft green, with paler ridges.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Dinner for this spiny sea star is coral, and the method is unusual: it pushes its own stomach out through its mouth, spreads it over the reef and digests in place. Steer clear of the spines. Purple-gray body, red to orange spine tips. Detailed. — Dinner for this spiny sea star is coral, and the method is unusual: it pushes its own stomach out through its mouth, spreads it over the reef and digests in place. Steer clear of the spines. Purple-gray body, red to orange spine tips. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Young ones start out with proper arms, then keep inflating until the star becomes a plump pentagon you could mistake for a pillow. Every bump is a small hard plate. Orange, red, green or brown all occur; mottle two shades for depth. Detailed. — Young ones start out with proper arms, then keep inflating until the star becomes a plump pentagon you could mistake for a pillow. Every bump is a small hard plate. Orange, red, green or brown all occur; mottle two shades for depth. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Nicknamed the redwood of the reef, it grows roomy enough for a person to climb inside, and some are thought to be over a thousand years old. Water seeps in through the walls and leaves by the open mouth. Reddish brown to rusty purple. — Nicknamed the redwood of the reef, it grows roomy enough for a person to climb inside, and some are thought to be over a thousand years old. Water seeps in through the walls and leaves by the open mouth. Reddish brown to rusty purple.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Pointy as those bumps look, it is soft to the touch and a cousin of sea stars and urchins. At the front, a ring of frilly tentacles mops food off the sea floor, one sticky lick at a time. Reddish brown, the bumps tipped orange. — Pointy as those bumps look, it is soft to the touch and a cousin of sea stars and urchins. At the front, a ring of frilly tentacles mops food off the sea floor, one sticky lick at a time. Reddish brown, the bumps tipped orange.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Thousands of short, sticky tentacles cover the disc in a shag carpet, and clownfish happily move in without getting stung. A large one spreads wider than a doormat. Green, blue, purple or tan; pick one and shade the folds darker. Detailed. — Thousands of short, sticky tentacles cover the disc in a shag carpet, and clownfish happily move in without getting stung. A large one spreads wider than a doormat. Green, blue, purple or tan; pick one and shade the folds darker. Detailed.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Tide pools along the Pacific coast are dotted with this anemone, and part of the green comes from algae living inside its tissue. At low tide it folds its tentacles in and waits for the water to return. Vivid green crown, olive column. — Tide pools along the Pacific coast are dotted with this anemone, and part of the green comes from algae living inside its tissue. At low tide it folds its tentacles in and waits for the water to return. Vivid green crown, olive column.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Here is a slug that runs on sunshine. It eats algae, keeps the working green parts intact, and tucks them into the ruffles on its back to make food from light for weeks. Pale green, with white or blue along the frilled edges. — Here is a slug that runs on sunshine. It eats algae, keeps the working green parts intact, and tucks them into the ruffles on its back to make food from light for weeks. Pale green, with white or blue along the frilled edges.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Largest of all known jellyfish, with tentacles that can trail longer than a blue whale. It lives in cold northern seas, where the trailing mass really does resemble a shaggy mane. Crimson to golden orange on the bell, darker red frills below. — Largest of all known jellyfish, with tentacles that can trail longer than a blue whale. It lives in cold northern seas, where the trailing mass really does resemble a shaggy mane. Crimson to golden orange on the bell, darker red frills below.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - With no eyes at all, it still notices a passing shadow and swings its long spines toward it. Those needles can be longer than the body is wide. Glossy black spines, a dark body and a few blue dots near the top, as in life. — With no eyes at all, it still notices a passing shadow and swings its long spines toward it. Those needles can be longer than the body is wide. Glossy black spines, a dark body and a few blue dots near the top, as in life.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Remove this sea star from a rocky shore and the whole community changes, which is why ecologists coined the term keystone species for it. It pries mussels open with sheer patience. Purple or bright orange; both colors belong to the same species. — Remove this sea star from a rocky shore and the whole community changes, which is why ecologists coined the term keystone species for it. It pries mussels open with sheer patience. Purple or bright orange; both colors belong to the same species.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Not a plant and not one animal, but a whole colony shaped like an old quill pen, anchored in sand. Touch it and it glows green, then deflates and pulls down out of sight. Bright orange plumes, a slightly paler stalk. — Not a plant and not one animal, but a whole colony shaped like an old quill pen, anchored in sand. Touch it and it glows green, then deflates and pulls down out of sight. Bright orange plumes, a slightly paler stalk.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - A regular at public aquariums, where the golden bell pulses slowly under blue light. Its long maroon tentacles sting small prey, and frilly cream arms pass the catch up to the mouth. Amber gold on the bell, deep maroon for the tentacles. — A regular at public aquariums, where the golden bell pulses slowly under blue light. Its long maroon tentacles sting small prey, and frilly cream arms pass the catch up to the mouth. Amber gold on the bell, deep maroon for the tentacles.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Call it a jellyfish and a biologist will object: it is a floating colony of specialized parts acting as one animal. It cannot swim; the gas-filled float acts as a sail and the wind does the steering. Blue-violet float, pink crest, blue tentacles. — Call it a jellyfish and a biologist will object: it is a floating colony of specialized parts acting as one animal. It cannot swim; the gas-filled float acts as a sail and the wind does the steering. Blue-violet float, pink crest, blue tentacles.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Over years of scraping with spines and teeth, this urchin grinds a pocket into solid rock and sits in it through crashing waves. Most of its day goes to grazing kelp. Every spine a deep violet, darker toward the base. — Over years of scraping with spines and teeth, this urchin grinds a pocket into solid rock and sits in it through crashing waves. Most of its day goes to grazing kelp. Every spine a deep violet, darker toward the base.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Alive, it is covered in fuzzy purple spines; the white disk beachcombers find is the bare skeleton. The five-petal pattern marks rows of tiny tube feet it breathes through. Dusky purple to brown for a living one. — Alive, it is covered in fuzzy purple spines; the white disk beachcombers find is the bare skeleton. The five-petal pattern marks rows of tiny tube feet it breathes through. Dusky purple to brown for a living one.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Algae living in its body feed it, and in one famous lake in Palau millions of these jellies cross the water each day following the sun. Instead of long tentacles it has clusters of short frilly arms. Olive brown bell, cream polka dots. — Algae living in its body feed it, and in one famous lake in Palau millions of these jellies cross the water each day following the sun. Instead of long tentacles it has clusters of short frilly arms. Olive brown bell, cream polka dots.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Branches fork like deer antlers, and the colony can add more length in a year than almost any other reef coral. Small fish hide among the tips. Golden tan for the branches, with paler or even blue growing tips. — Branches fork like deer antlers, and the colony can add more length in a year than almost any other reef coral. Small fish hide among the tips. Golden tan for the branches, with paler or even blue growing tips.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - Up to two dozen arms and a top speed of about a meter a minute, a sprint by sea star standards. Urchins flee when they sense one coming. Orange, purple or red; try a gradient toward the arm tips. — Up to two dozen arms and a top speed of about a meter a minute, a sprint by sea star standards. Urchins flee when they sense one coming. Orange, purple or red; try a gradient toward the arm tips.

Sea Creature Coloring Pages - A sponge with a skeleton of spun glass. Two tiny shrimp often move in while young, grow too big to leave and spend their whole lives inside, which made it a classic wedding gift in Japan. Leave it mostly white with pale blue-gray shadows. — A sponge with a skeleton of spun glass. Two tiny shrimp often move in while young, grow too big to leave and spend their whole lives inside, which made it a classic wedding gift in Japan. Leave it mostly white with pale blue-gray shadows.

Fun Things to Make with These Coloring Pages

Field guide binder – color a page, write three facts from the caption on the back, punch holes and file it in a ring binder. Over a few weeks it becomes a homemade guide to the coast, species name included.
Ice and water wash – after the coloring is done, dampen a wide brush with watery blue watercolor and sweep it across the background only. The animal stays sharp while the sea and ice soften around it.
Pinniped sort – lay the finished seals, sea lions and walrus side by side and sort them by ear flaps, flipper shape and nose. It turns into a game of telling true seals from eared seals.
Sea cave diorama – cut the colored animal out, fold a tab at the bottom and stand it inside a shoebox painted blue inside. Crumpled tissue makes kelp and a torn paper edge makes the ice.
Textured fur – color the body once in a flat base tone, then go back over it with a slightly darker pencil in short strokes that follow the direction of the fur. It takes ten minutes and reads as a real coat.
Postcard set – shrink the PDF to two pages per sheet when printing, color them small, glue onto card stock and cut to postcard size. The species name under the picture makes them look printed.
Scratch-foam print – trace the main outline onto a sheet of craft foam with a dry ballpoint, roll on paint, press onto paper. The smooth-bodied animals print cleanest; fur and spots can be added by hand afterward.
Species quiz – color the pages, then cover the names with a strip of paper and ask the family to identify each animal. Telling one spotted seal from another is harder than it sounds.

More Coloring Pages

Aquarium Fish Coloring Pages - A betta can gulp air at the surface through a labyrinth organ, which is how bettas get by in shallow rice paddies. This halfmoon tail opens wider than the fish is long. Detailed - let deep red melt into royal blue at the fin edges.

80 pages80 B&WAquarium FishColoring Pages

Ocean Fish Coloring Pages - Every clownfish hatches male. When the female who rules the anemone dies, her mate changes sex and takes her place. Orange body, three white bands with thin black edges, black-rimmed fins - and soft violet tips on the anemone tentacles.

80 pages80 B&WOcean FishColoring Pages

Realistic Bird Coloring Pages - The keel-billed toucan, national bird of Belize, picks berries with a bill that looks heavy and weighs almost nothing, thanks to a light honeycomb inside. Paint it lime green, sky blue and orange with a red tip; jet black body, lemon-yellow bib.

79 pages79 B&WRealistic BirdColoring Pages

Printable Bird Coloring Pages - Red from crest to tail, with a black mask around the bill, like a bandit who gave up on subtlety. That is the male Northern Cardinal; the female is warm brown with red touches. Give him a coral-orange bill and leave the berries for last.

100 pages100 B&WPrintable BirdColoring Pages

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