History Main / TheReptilians

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars, not necessarily in that order[[hottip:*:To be technical,many believe humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. Such dinosaur-derived creatures are sometimes called "Dinosauroids," a term first popularized by paleontologist Dale Russell's hypothetical ''Troodon''-descended humanoid. Naturally, those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

* The Ithklur in {{Traveller}} are a ProudWarriorRace that serves as a ServantRace to the Hiver's(who need them badly being rather courage-deprived as a rule). The Ithklur are not evil but are [[BoisterousBruiser hearty souls that love a good fight]].

* The Ithklur in {{Traveller}} are a ProudWarriorRace that serves as a HenchmanRace to the Hiver's(who need them badly being rather courage-deprived as a rule). The Ithklur are not evil but are [[BoisterousBruiser hearty souls that love a good fight]].

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars, not necessarily in that order[[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. Such dinosaur-derived creatures are sometimes called "Dinosauroids," a term first popularized by paleontologist Dale Russell's hypothetical ''Troodon''-descended humanoid. Naturally, those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

* In ''Earthsong'', one of the ill-fated Guards in Earthsong's welcoming party for Beluosus is a Reptilian.

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars, not necessarily in that order[[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. Such dinosaur-derived creatures are sometimes called "Dinosauroids," a term first popularized by paleontologist Dale Russell's hypothetical Troodon-descended humanoid. Naturally, those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars, not necessarily in that order[[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. Naturally, those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

* The Visitors from ''{{V}}'' are the {{Trope Codifier}}s. They infiltrate many parts of human society, and they want to ''[[ToServeMan eat us]]'' (along with other tasty mammals). Rather than shapeshifting, however, they use fake human-like skin to mask their true appearance, a method best exemplified by the iconic shot of Diana peeling back the skin on one side of her face to reveal green scaly skin and a catlike eye.

** If you're wondering, the more recent ''V'' series took no motion to subvert any of this. Except the Visitors were more of a combination of [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute yucky reptile-people and icky bug-people]]. Yeah.

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars, not necessarily in that order [[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. [[CarnivoreConfusion Naturally]], those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars[[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. [[CarnivoreConfusion Naturally]], those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were). Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]].

* The Narn and Drazi, along with other less significant species, in ''BabylonFive'', although their ProudWarriorRace personalities are a bit different from the metaphorically cold-blooded norm.

* The alien Badoon and Skrulls of MarvelComics. Marvel also has the Serpent Men, borrowed from ''{{Conan|TheBarbarian}}'' in the days when he had a comic there. Ch'od of the Starjammers also fits the description. As does, to some degree, Stegron the Dinosaur Man. And the SpacePirate Captain Reptyl. And the Tribbitites, aka Toad Men. Along with assorted reptilian {{mutants}} such as Slither, Scaleface, Primal, etc. Basically, Marvel likes this trope.

* The rakoshi from F. Paul Wilson's ''[[RepairmanJack The Tomb]]'' hatch out of eggs and are described in highly reptilian terms, although they don't have scales.

* The Sakkra, from the MasterOfOrion series.

* The [[SnakeTalk snake-talking]] Thrynn in {{Starflight}}. Interstellar merchants and con-artists who, despite their depiction as having purely carnivorous dental structure, find themselves in constant war with their [[PlantAliens neighbors, the Elowan]]. The Thrynn have [[EatsBabies a taste for Elowan "headfruit"]] you see...

[[folder:Videogames]]

* The Ternaui in ''The Excalibur Alternative''. Initially appearing as silent bodyguards to the BigBad, it turns out that [[spoiler: they are telepathic and detest their slavery. Eventually they side with the humans.]]

[[caption-width-right:250:The typical appearance of a Reptilian. At least, when they don't [[VoluntaryShapeshifting look just]] [[TheyLookLikeUsNow like us]].]]

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who attained sentience, somehow survived the K/P Extinction event, and moved elsewhere among the stars[[hottip:*:To be technical, humans and other mammals themselves evolved from reptilian proto-dinosaurs, so [[ArtMajorBiology having the Reptilians actually stay strictly reptilian would be quite a stretch]], especially if they moved to a planet with a very different environment from Earth's to evolve in]]. Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]]. [[CarnivoreConfusion Naturally]], those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were).

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs (yes, [[ScienceMarchesOn we know]], but most of the people who write these things don't) who somehow survived the K/P Extinction event and moved elsewhere among the stars. Alternatively, they evolved on a planet whose evolutionary history is just like that of Earth, but [[EvolutionaryLevels stalled out]] before mammals could take their [[HumansAreSpecial rightful place at the top]]. [[CarnivoreConfusion Naturally]], those dinosaurs often turn out to have been descendants of the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were).

Depending on just how reptilian {{Reptilians}} are portrayed to be (and depending on a program's budget), they can run the gamut from [[RubberForeheadAliens bald humans with]] [[PettingZooPeople weird eyes]] to full-on LizardFolk with a human-like gait. Also, a rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the more reptilian the aliens are, the less likely they are to be portrayed as good guys. Of course.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' has the Silurians and their aquatic cousins the Sea Devils[[hottip:*:Both of these are technically FantasticSlurs: many fans prefer "Earth Reptiles", and the Eleventh Doctor uses the taxonomically inaccurate "homo reptilia"]]. They are not extraterrestrials, but the previous inhabitants of Earth before humans came around. They do live underground and abduct people, though, which still fits in with Reptilian lore. There are also the Ice Warriors, the inhabitants of Mars, though their reptilian features aren't emphasized as much.

Being reptile-like, [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent they are almost always evil alien invaders]]. Unlike their Grey and Green cousins, though, TheReptilians tend to be portrayed as [[AlwaysChaoticEvil even more vicious and sadistic]], frequently abducting humans [[ToServeMan as a food source]]. They are frequently [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shape-shifters]], changing into human form in order to infiltrate our ranks and take over the world before we even realize it. Like LittleGreenMen and TheGreys, they tend to be rather enigmatic invaders whose only direct contact with humans is through abductions. The trend nowadays, though, has been to give TheReptilians a more detailed culture than those two, typically as either ScaryDogmaticAliens or as the vanguard of a vast but decadent empire. They commonly have hidden bases BeneathTheEarth, which probably stems from a fusion of the {{Primal Fear}}s of both reptiles and the underground.

If the biological history of TheReptilians gets mentioned, they are frequently revealed to be dinosaurs who somehow survived the K-T Extinction event and moved elsewhere among the stars. Because of their tendency to be villains, those dinosaurs often turn out to have been the carnivorous ones such as ''[[RaptorAttack Velociraptor]]'' or ''TyrannosaurusRex'' (it helps that many theropods are considered to have been the most intelligent dinosaurs there were).

Depending on just how reptilian {{Reptilians}} are portrayed to be (and depending on a program's budget), they can run the gamut from [[RubberForeheadAliens humans with]] [[PettingZooPeople scales tacked on]] to giant lizards or dinosaurs with a human-like gait. Also, a rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the more reptilian the aliens are, the less likely they are to be portrayed as good guys.

* The alien Badoon and Skrulls of MarvelComics. Marvel also has the Serpent Men, borrowed from ''{{Conan|TheBarbarian}}'' in the days when he had a comic there. Ch'od of the Starjammers also fits the description. As does Stegron the Dinosaur Man. And the SpacePirate Captain Reptyl. And the Tribbitites, aka Toad Men. Along with assorted reptilian {{mutants}} such as Slither, Scaleface, Primal, etc.

* Many ''StarWars'' races, most notably the Trandoshans. ''AttackOfTheClones'' features [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Zam_Wesell Zam Wesell]], the assassin hired to kill Senator Amidala.

* MarionZimmerBradley's The Brass Dragon. The Dikri are a race of cold, ruthless dragon-like aliens who can Shape Shift into human form. They act as renegades, interfering on primitive worlds in violation of interstellar rules.

* EdgarRiceBurroughs created the Horibs for his ''{{Pellucidar}}'' series.

* The Quintaglios of Robert J. Sawyer's ''QuintaglioAscension'' trilogy are sentient Tyrannosaurs.

* The Yilani of HarryHarrison's ''WestOfEden'' series are a race of humanoid reptilians that evolved on an Earth where the dinosaurs never died out.

* The Visitors from ''{{V}}'' are the {{Trope Codifier}}s. They infiltrate many parts of human society, and they want to [[ToServeMan eat us]]. Rather than shapeshifting, however, they use fake human-like skin to mask their true appearance, a method best exemplified by the iconic shot of Diana peeling back the skin on one side of her face to reveal green scaly skin and a catlike eye.
* In ''Series/WarOfTheWorlds'', the martians are portrayeds this way. Except that strictly speaking, they aren't shape-shifters, but body snatchers.

** The Voth were descended from Earth dinosaurs.

* Longus from ''TryingHuman'' is one.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bravestarr}}'' has a race of SnakePeople, including villainess Vipra and good guy Handlebar.
* The Triceratons from ''TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles.''

* The Lizarkons of the planet Thanagar, {{Hawkman}}'s homeworld, in DCComics. Also the Gordanians and Psions, who both terrorize [[TeenTitans Starfire's]] home system of Vega.