Line #36 Main/ReptilianConspiracy


1	[[quoteright:331:[[Series/{{V1983}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/visitor_from_v.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:331:[[WaxingLyrical He sits like a man,]] [[Music/AladdinSane but he smiles like a reptile …]]]]
3	->''"Snake people, or 'Sneople', control our government at the highest levels!"''
4	-->-- '''[[ConspiracyTheorist Ronaldo Fryman]]''', ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', [[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E31KeepBeachCityWeird "Keep Beach City Weird"]]
5
6	LizardFolk and SnakePeople. They [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent seem shifty]]. They have a {{snake\|sAreSinister}}'s [[HypnoticEyes hypnotic-seeming eyes]], and they do weird things like shed their skin. Everyone [[ThisIsReality says they aren't real]], but how can we be sure? What if they're [[TheMasquerade just hiding]] and [[TheConspiracy controlling our society from the shadows]]?
7
8	This is an idea that's bounced back and forth between fiction and the fringes of conspiracy theories for about a century now.
9
10	They may be an AlienInvasion, an [[{{Ultraterrestrials}} ancient race]] from the AgeOfReptiles dwelling BeneathTheEarth or in the HollowWorld (possibly with {{Domesticated\|Dinosaurs}} LivingDinosaurs), [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]], or AncientAstronauts [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot descended from the dinosaurs living underground]] [[DevilComplex pretending to be demons]]. Often they're here ToServeMan, and they're even more likely than most LizardFolk and SnakePeople to be AlwaysChaoticEvil and to fall under ReptilesAreAbhorrent. They may be, or make, HalfHumanHybrids. Unfortunately, as with a lot of conspiracy theories, this trope has a worrying tendency to veer into antisemitic territory, often at least presenting the Reptilians as SpaceJews, if not outright claiming that [[GreedyJew actual Jews are either the Reptilians themselves]] or their ([[LesCollaborateurs witting]] or {{unwitting\|Pawn}}) pawns.
11
12	They're typically, although not always, using some sort of HumanDisguise so that TheyLookLikeUsNow -- which sometimes becomes [[Administrivia/TropeDecay the only element of this trope present]] if they're not actually hiding. These mean you have a whole race of [[ShapeshiftingTrickster Shapeshifting Tricksters]] using VoluntaryShapeshifting, PsychicPowers, {{Hologram}}s, [[MasterOfIllusion Illusion Magic]], MassHypnosis, {{Glamour}}, GenuineHumanHide, DemonicPossession, a MindControlConspiracy, HypnoticEyes, SubliminalAdvertising, etc. Common tropes here are TheCorruption, ArtificialHybrid or TransformationOfThePossessed (if they convert humans into Reptilians), AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder, WeirdnessCensor, and InvisibleToNormals (for more mental/illusion-based disguises) GlamourFailure, EyesAreMental, or ImmuneToMindControl (TheHero -- and the audience -- have to identify them somehow), KillAndReplace (an easy way to take over -- present in the original ''Literature/{{Kull}}'' story from 1929), {{Deprogram}} (when it's especially hard to free yourself from their control).
13
14	Since this is such a ridiculed real-world conspiracy theory, it may be {{invoked\|Trope}} and {{discussed\|Trope}} to demonstrate how crazy a ConspiracyTheorist character is -- and sometimes [[DoubleSubversion doubly subverted]] if TheCuckoolanderWasRight and they really do exist.
15
16	The {{Trope Maker\|s}} was Creator/RobertEHoward in his ''Literature/{{Kull}}'' story "The Shadow Kingdom" for ''Magazine/WeirdTales'' in August 1929.
17
18	A sub-trope of TheConspiracy, ScaledUp, and either LizardFolk or SnakePeople.
19
20	Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly, please.
21
22	----
23	!!Examples:
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27	* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheKnightsOnDinosaurs'' deal with LizardFolk whose civilization thrives BeneathTheEarth and erase the memories of those who discover them, and are planning to alter history so it's them and not the humans who flourish above ground. The finale of the movie has them agree to stay under the earth because [[DeusExMachina Doraemon's future gadgets]] saved their ancestors from extinction.
28	[[/folder]]
29
30	[[folder:Comic Books]]
31	* Creator/MarvelComics:
32	** The Badoon, Skrulls and Snarks. Marvel also has the original Serpent-Men, borrowed from ''ComicBook/{{Conan\|TheBarbarian}}'' in the days when he had a comic there.
33	** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'' has the Chitauri, who are a DarkerAndEdgier reimagining of the Skrulls.
34	* Creator/DCComics has the Gordanians and Psions, who both terrorize [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Starfire's]] home system of Vega, abducting the natives and experimenting on them. Despite their name, the Psions aren't psychic, just extremely advanced.
35	** ''ComicBook/BatmanOdyssey'' has a race of dinosaur-men from the HollowWorld who can pass for human. [[spoiler:Batman's sidekick Primus turn out to be secretly one of them.]]
36	** One issue of ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' (during the short-lived run by Creator/WarrenEllis) has John Constantine telling a reporter of the conspiracies in Buckingham Palace before [[spoiler:faking his death at the hands of the conspiracy]]. He suggests that [[WhoShotJFK Kennedy arranged his own assassination]] with TheGreys and the reptilians (with a literal magic bullet) because [[EmasculatedCuckold he caught his wife getting it on with a snake demon and enjoying it]], and that UsefulNotes/TheBritishRoyalFamily are also secretly snake demons and killed Princess Diana because she was secretly impregnated by one of them. In fact, [[spoiler:it's all BS intended to scare the reporter away from a perfectly mundane drug-smuggling operation in the palace]].
37	* ''ComicBook/RequiemVampireKnight'' has the Dystopians, reptilian British demons who've built an empire in Hell after being damned for the sin of imperialism (that is, rape, torture, pillage and other genocides committed in the name of Empire). They also have [[CorruptChurch connections in the Vatican]], having a pipeline that delivers holy water to Resurrection (being a potent weapon against evil, it's very much in demand by evil factions looking to get rid of their rivals).
38	* ''ComicBook/NeilGaimansTeknophage'' is from an ancient race of demonic dinosaur aliens. He builds up civilizations only to corrupt them and use them to process the inhabitants for HumanResources.
39	* ''ComicBook/SaucerCountry'' has these abduct the protagonist.
40	* A ''particularly'' odd ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' comic, in TheChristmasAnnual 2019, claimed that Queen Elizabeth II ''was'', in fact, a shapeshifted and carnivorous lizard, but this was ''fine'' and the Doctor was friends with her.
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Film]]
44	* ''Film/IronSky'''s sequel, ''Film/IronSkyTheComingRace'', has UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler as a UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex-riding reptilian alien surviving to the present day in the HollowWorld, whose species created humanity in prehistoric times. His brother led the Moon-dwelling Nazis in the first film. The President of the USA is one too.
45	* Brought up as [[ConspiracyKitchenSink one of the few]] conspiracy theories that probably aren't true in ''Film/DarkSkies''.
46	* At the end of ''Film/WolfCop'', [[spoiler:the AncientConspiracy running the town are revealed to be these]].
47	* ''Film/TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm'' has a cult of vampiric SnakePeople who disguise themselves as humans and sacrifice locals in CampbellCountry to their eldritch serpentine god, Dionin the D'Ampton Worm.
48	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
49	** The prequel trilogy revolved around the reptilian [[ProudMerchantRace Neimoidians]] who served as an UnwittingPawn in Darth Sidious' bid for galactic domination, providing the Confederacy of Independent Systems with use of [[MegaCorp the Trade Federation]]'s vast fleets and droid armies.
50	** ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' features [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Zam_Wesell Zam Wesell]], a shapeshifting Clawdite assassin hired to kill Senator Amidala, in what could be a nod to this trope.
51	* In ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'', Brian Tyree Henry's ConspiracyTheorist character briefly mentions the Reptilians as possible candidates behind the shadowy doings of the [[MegaCorp Apex Corporation]], and their vast underground facilities.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Literature]]
55	* The {{Trope Maker\|s}} was Creator/RobertEHoward in his ''Literature/{{Kull}}'' story "The Shadow Kingdom" for ''Magazine/WeirdTales'' in August 1929. These humanoid Serpent-men predate humanity, and go through cycles of taking over human society using their illusions and being forced out when humans discover them.
56	** They've also made their way into many ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' stories by other authors, which are in the same setting just a little later.
57	** Since the ''Conan'' and ''Kull'' stories take place in a prehistoric ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'', the Serpent-Men have been used in a number of stories by Mythos writers, generally attached to the snake-god Yig.
58	** It's even similar enough to "serious" claims of this conspiracy by people such as Creator/DavidIcke, making it seem plausible the idea (scaled up to interdimensional scales) they push originates here.
59	* In the science fiction novel ''Literature/NationOfTheThirdEye'' by K.K. Savage, there is the reptilian race of Draconians. They live in a higher astral dimension but can also enter physicality at will. Needless to say, they are among the bad guys.
60	* Invoked by the Pervects of the {{fantasy}} ''Literature/MythAdventures'' series, "demons" who are green-scaled, sharp-toothed humanoids from the dimension Perv. Although they look the part, most Pervects [[SubvertedTrope aren't so much evil]] as rude, pushy, and egotistical; their racial reputation for being decadent, cruel and bloodthirsty is mostly propaganda, disseminated by the Pervects themselves to discourage non-Pervect freeloaders from immigrating to their wealthier, more advanced dimension.
61	* Within the early {{fantasy}} genre, one very unique forerunner of this trope is the Green Lady, Creator/CSLewis's central villain in ''Literature/TheSilverChair'' (the fourth ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia Narnia]]'' book published, and the sixth in terms of InUniverse chronology). From within her ElaborateUndergroundBase, the Lady subtly acquires power through governmental infiltration and mind control, and she alternates between a regular human form and a ScaledUp form. Of course, since this largely remained an UnbuiltTrope back in TheFifties, the Lady bears many differences from this trope as we know it today. For example, her reptilian form isn't humanoid like most examples today, but rather a massive venomous snake. Also, instead of being a whole species of invaders, the Lady is the only example that we see. [[DiabolusExNihilo Lewis never reveals her origins]] beyond vaguely hinting that she could be [[VillainousLegacy somehow connected]] to the White Witch from ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', nor does he specify whether her original form is humanoid, reptilian, or something else entirely.
62	* In ''[[Literature/SolarWarden Alien Secrets]]'', the race the humans calls the Saurians are one of the three known alien races (alongside the [[HumanAliens Nordics]] and TheGreys) and are the only race to be truly extraterrestrial. The other two are {{Ultraterrestrials}} from different time periods in the future (about 11,000 years and a million years, respectively). They first made contact with the Nazis (who called them the Eidesche, "lizards") in TheThirties, after one of their ships crash-landed in the Black Forest with only a single survivor. Since they're a telepathic HiveMind, more Eidesche followed and offered to help the Nazis develop advanced aircraft using ArtificialGravity and other alien tech (apparently, had the war lasted a little longer, the Nazis would have had the weapons they needed to crush the Allies once and for all). After the fall of Berlin, the man in charge of the secret program fled on an experimental space/time vehicle called ''Die Glocke'' ("the bell"), piloted by an Eidesche. The vehicle traveled 20 years into the future and landed in Kecksburg, PA, where it was retrieved by the Americans.
63	* In Ray Nelson's short story "Eight O'Clock in the Morning" and its comic book adaptation "Nada", the aliens infiltrating Earth are firmly reptilian -- unlike it's more famous film adaptation, ''Film/TheyLive'', where they look more like zombie things.
64	* Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs' ''Literature/{{Pellucidar}}'' series has what may qualify as an UnbuiltTrope -- a telepathic dinosaur-ish GiantFlyer race, the Mahar, descended from pterosaurs and living in the HollowWorld.
65	* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in the SpeculativeDocumentary book ''Literature/AllTomorrows'' by Nemo Ramjet -- one of the successors of mankind is a race known as the Saurosapients, which evolved from large lizards brought to a tropical planet by humans. They were once the livestock of a minimally-intelligent species of genetically modified human, who degenerated to become ''their'' livestock after the reptiles out-evolved them. Saurosapients are neither evil nor very human-like in general appearance (more like featherless raptors), but their society grows paranoid that an alien race will wipe them out like the humans before them. [[spoiler:It's presumed that robot humans did wipe them out eventually, along with many other races that ''were'' human-descended.]]
66	* Creator/AndreNorton's Zacathans are highly intelligent, extremely civilized, and tend to be top-level Intelligentsia (having very long lifespans gives them lots of time to learn a lot of stuff). And they're still outstanding fighters if they have to be, due to reptile hide and very long teeth. (Oh yes, and the highest known psi rating in the galaxy, which they keep a DarkSecret.)
67	* ''Literature/AnonymousRex'' had some dinosaurs surviving their mass extinction. They adapted to human society by disguising themselves as people.
68	* Creator/TerryBrooks' ''Literature/{{Shannara}}'' series has the Mwellrets. They're actually a subspecies of [[AllTrollsAreDifferent Troll]], that survived in the swamps instead of the northern mountains. They have hypnotic eyes, limited control of magic, and a penchant for FantasticRacism. One of the few species that has so far been AlwaysChaoticEvil.
69	* ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth'' has Mriswith, a race that came from a GoneHorriblyRight attempt to give wizards invisibility. They also overlap with BeePeople, since, though covered with scales and possessing ChameleonCamouflage, they procreate through a dragon sized, pheromone communicating HiveQueen.
70	* ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' introduces a robot in ''Literature/SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish'' that comes from a planet where "the people are people and the leaders are lizards". Everyone knows they're lizards, but they keep voting for them anyway because otherwise the wrong lizard might win.
71	* ''Literature/TheHeraldsOfFalseLight'': As a ConspiracyKitchenSink setting, naturally these show up in the form of the Lacertans, who rule the continent of Lemuria.
72	-->"Great, first the Illuminati and now reptilians. What other conspiracy theory are we going up against?"
73	* ''Literature/AngelDownSussex'', a short story about alien abduction from the perspective of 1920s villagers, has one of the "faerie" abductors that switches between human and LizardFolk form.
74	* ''Literature/RebelPlanet'' has an InvertedTrope where the humans are conspiring to undermine and rebel against the reptilian aliens, who conquered them centuries ago.
75	* ''Literature/TerreEnFuite'' has a race of reptilian aliens called the R'hneh'er who use MindControl to manipulate other civilizations and eat humans. Unusually,they were a stone age society before encountering humans to manipulate.
76	* ''Literature/TheLegacyOfTotalitarianismInATundra'' - as part of a ConspiracyKitchenSink.
77	* ''Literature/LizardMusic'' is a juvenile novel by Daniel Pinkwater in which a boy watching television very late at night learns about, and eventually gets to visit, an island of friendly lizard people.
78	* ''Literature/DungeonCrawlerCarl'': Mordecai uses this as part of a metaphor to explain how the city elves are like those crazies who thought aliens and reptilians secretly controlled everything. Note that Mordecai is himself an alien who has been hiding on Earth for decades.
79	-->'''Carl:''' But... you guys ''were'' secretly manipulating things behind the scenes.\
80	'''Mordecai:''' Psh, yeah, but not the ''reptilians''. Those guys, run a shadow government? The last one I knew couldn't even run a fantasy football league.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
84	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Silurians and Sea Devils were native to Earth, long ago, and plot to reclaim it. The human-skin-wearing predatory Slitheen also qualify, although they're smooth-skinned and look more like huge clawed frogs or something than lizards.
85	* ''Series/BuckRogersInTheTwentyFifthCentury'': The Saurians were evil and they were also able to take [[VoluntaryShapeShifter human form]]. Exposing them to cold stripped away the disguise and revealed their true form.
86	* ''Series/{{Grimm}}'': Various reptilian Wesen are lizard-like; most noably for our purposes the glow-in-the-dark alien-like Gluhenvolk. Like all Wesen they can take human form of course.
87	* ''Series/{{CSI}}'' had an episode dealing with this trope, "Leapin' Lizards", where the dead guy of the week was a believer in a reptilian conspiracy. Their website is shown, with several world leaders morphing into reptilians, and one of the guys hallucinates Brass with a reptilian tongue and Greg with reptilian characteristics-which leads to Greg being bitten.
88	* The Visitors from ''Series/{{V 1983}}'' are arguably 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. It should be noted that, aside from [[FollowTheLeader inspiring the creation of other fictional Reptilians]], ''V'' encouraged the conspiracy theories about Reptilians, which were practically nonexistent before the show aired.
89	* The ''Series/{{V 2009}}'' reboot series was much the same, except the Visitors were more of a combination of [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute yucky reptile-people and icky bug-people]]. The reboot also has them literally grafting human skin onto their scales. One form of punishment for the [=Vs=] is to be skinned alive, which causes just as much pain as it would a human, since the grafted skin has perfectly working nerves. There's also the possibility of [[HalfHumanHybrid interbreeding]] between humans and [=Vs=].
90	* In ''Series/WarOfTheWorlds1988'', the Martians are essentially turned into the aforementioned Visitors. Except that they're body snatchers.
91	* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': In the episode "Birthright", a U.S. Senator escapes from his security detail after his own men try to kill him, and gradually gets weird warts and such. It turns out that a race of [[LizardFolk reptiloid aliens]] had sent spies to study humans and the spies are turning back after the disguise wears off. The horror factor is the spies themselves didn't know they were aliens.
92	* ''Series/LostTapes'' has two episodes focused on LizardFolk: one where they're living in the sewers and eating people, and one where they're [[PaperThinDisguise wearing hoodies]] and organizing parties where teenagers go missing but higher-ups in the police DestroyTheEvidence.
93	* One [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYehEp9eaBE trailer]] for ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' exactly duplicates Creator/{{ABC}}'s own ''Series/{{V\|2009}}''… [[TrailerSpoof until]] the spaceship shows J.D.'s face instead of Anna's. He announces ''Scrubs'' is back to general rejoicing, then adds "By the way, these people are [[LizardFolk lizards]]."
94	* ''Series/PeopleOfEarth'' is a WorkCom all about aliens plotting to invade the Earth. One of the three species of the "Trinity Federation" are reptilian "Greens" who are usually assigned to disguise themselves as humans, even though one of the other Trinity species (the "Whites") are HumanAliens.
95	* ''Series/AncientAliens'' has an episode unironically about this, complete with an appearance from Creator/DavidIcke.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Music]]
99	* Music/WeirdAlYankovic plays a ConspiracyTheorist in his music video for [[Music/MandatoryFun "Foil"]] (a parody of [[Music/{{Lorde}} Lorde's]] "Royal"). At the end of the video, the Reptilian turns out to be [[spoiler: the director of the music video (played by Creator/PattonOswalt)]].
100	* The ''Bear Hands'' song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4qTUyBJvRk Reptilians]] is about this trope.
101	* The ''Something Wicked Saga'' by Music/IcedEarth is told from the point of view of the Setians, a race of [[LizardFolk Reptilian Humanoids]] who were indigenous to Earth and [[HumansAreBastards nearly got wiped out by invading humans]], but have brainwashed us to forget our alien origins and infiltrated our society.
102	* Music/TheFaceless' ConceptAlbum ''Planetary Duality'' is all about reptilian aliens controlling society.
103	* [[Music/BoBRapper B.o.B]]'s 2016 single "Flatline" is an unironic rant about how the Earth is flat attacking Neil [=deGrasse=] Tyson, NASA the Freemasons, and the Jews, as well as touching on this trope.
104	* Music/{{Melvins}}' music video for "The Talking Horse" has a MindScrew of a plot that seems to spoof conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and reptiloids, then throws in lip-syncing scenery for good measure.
105	* WebVideo/FilthyFrank's song "Flex like David Icke" is about this and other conspiracy theories.
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Radio]]
109	* On ''Radio/OpieAndAnthony'', Creator/LouisCK asked Donald Rumsfeld if he and Dick Cheney were part of a Reptilian conspiracy to control the world. Donald declined to answer.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:TabletopGames]]
113	* ''TabletopGame/SecretHitler'': Hitler and the other fascists are portrayed as reptiles and amphibians, as the creators felt showing their faces would be glorifying them.
114	* ''TabletopGame/DragonRekindled'': Various Reptilian conspiracies through history have been organizations of [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Oroboroi]].
115	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': Among the various SnakePeople, LizardFolk, and {{Draconic Humanoid}}s in the game, the serpentine yuan-ti stand out as this trope due to their penchant for sending "purebloods" (low-ranking individuals who look mostly human) into human society as spies.
116	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Starfinder}}'': Reptoids are a race of shapeshifting infiltrators from another planet or dimension (they refuse to divulge their origins even under duress, so it is somewhat unclear) who seek to prepare the target world for invasion.
117	%%* The [[LizardFolk Saurians]] in ''TabletopGame/ConspiracyX''.
118	* ''TabletopGame/AchtungCthulhu's'' serpent people transfer the spirits of their dead back into new human bodies. Once the spirit takes over its new host, it begins to undergo an internal TransformationOfThePossessed, though on the surface it still appears to be human. These half-human "jian" possess all of the memories and abilities of their host, combined with the abilities of the serpent people, and are used to interact with humans and infiltrate human society.
119	* Shapeshifting reptilians are one of the sample cryptids in ''TabletopGame/DemonTheDescent'', serving as equal-opportunity minions to demonic and angelic conspiracies. However, they're {{LovableCoward}}s who drop their disguises and flee and the first sign of danger.
120	* ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen's'' Serpent-folk use hypergeometry to masquerade undetected as humans, and are one of the most insidious threats to Delta Green.
121	* Some of the Ascended in ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' are essentially snakes in human form. Like all transformed animals in this game, they are animals that used magic in order to assume human form, and very much want to ''stay'' human, which is why their AncientConspiracy is dedicated to keeping magic as low as possible -- it's the only way to revert them to their original animal forms, and reversion is generally a one-way trip.
122	* ''TabletopGame/WickedFantasy's'' Kuba-Chubisi are a benevolent example, who have used magic to assume mostly-human forms in order to secretly walk amongst humans and guide their civilization to attain levels of nobility and honor that they hope will allow humanity to defeat the [[AbusivePrecursors Uz]].
123	* ''TabletopGame/WorldWarCthulhu'' has standard Franchise/CthulhuMythos serpent-people who are finding it hard to stay undercover when conspiracy theorists keep spotting them.
124	* ''TabletopGame/TimeWatch'': Reptoids are an unimaginably ancient species of apparently immortal shape-shifting reptilian bipeds from a plane of reality beyond four-dimensional space-time. They can alter their physical forms into visually perfect copies of any carbon-based life form they touch. Their plots often focus on placing reptoid hybrids in positions of power, where they can deliberately manage cultural and technological developments to ensure long-term ascendance to a properly ordered society: to the reptoids, this usually means political or corporate autocracy.
125	* ''TabletopGame/TheEndOfTheWorld'': one of the possible antagonists in Alien Invasion, they control an AncientConspiracy.
126	* ''TabletopGame/MoonDustMen'': a variety of possible explanations for them are given, including the descendants of ''Troodon'', aliens who merely resemble Earth reptiles, or shapeshifting dimension-travellers infiltrating our ranks by cannibalism and sorcery.
127	* ''TabletopGame/DragonRekindled'': they're actually an organization of Oroboroi, humans who have consumed the Hearts of Dragons to gain their power, and the players can join.
128	* ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'', being based on mad science, has these in the Third Race. They are manes (creatures made when the idea behind them was disproven- these guys came to life when everyone realized that there ''wasn't'' a hidden continent populated by lizard people) who formerly lived in the Bardo of Lemuria, before they [[RetGone ret-goned]] it by screwing with TimeTravel. They formed the Baramins of Lemuria to steer scientific development so their home could come about again, but they were overthrown by human Genii in a process beginning in the Renaissance. The race is now dying out, with the few remaining members in hiding.
129	* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'':
130	** The [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Alien Alien]] archetype. Most of the members have some sort of lizard-like attributes to them, and they are all Reptile-type. Their card artworks depict things like [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Brainwashing_Beam brainwashing]], [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/%22A%22_Cell_Recombination_Device experimentation]], and [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Planet_Pollutant_Virus planetary invasion]].
131	** There is also the [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Worm Worm]] archetype. While they don't have much in the way of reptilian features, they are also extraterrestrial invaders, and are likely Reptile-type because of this trope.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Video Games]]
135	* ''VideoGame/AgeOfWondersPlanetfall'' features the Shakarn, a warlike lizard species that had been infiltrating human space for centuries before the collapse of the Star Union led to the right moment for them to invade in force. They have a FantasticCasteSystem which determines the role of individuals based on their hatching conditions, with one caste being the typical infiltrators associated with this trope, another being their mainline troops that rely on brute force, and a rarer third leader cast that [[AllYourPowersCombined has the best traits of both]].
136	* ''VideoGame/ChickenPolice'', being set in a world of animal people, does, of course, have its own spin on it. Marty will mention in passing that, according to some conspiracy theory magazines he has read, Clawville's Foundation War was really a hoax, and the Reptiles deliberately stayed out of it in order to consolidate their power and are controlling Clawville from the underground to this very day. Sonny, the PlayerCharacter, dismisses it as a bunch of "sheep shit".
137	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'' has a reference to this trope in an intro between Peacemaker and Reptile:
138	-->'''Reptile''': Zaterrans ''aren't'' a threat.\
139	'''Peacemaker''': Yes, you ''are''. You're lizard people!
140	* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'' includes the "Payback" [[CosmeticAward Achievement]], which requires you, [[InvertedTrope as a humanoid species, to infiltrate the homeworld of pre-FTL reptilians.]]
141	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Referenced with the "Reptiloid" cosmetic for the Sniper, which exposes green scales and a [[AnimalEyes snake-like eye]] underneath his peeling human skin.
142	* ''VideoGame/AVeryLongRopeToTheTopOfTheSky'': [[DiscussedTrope Referenced]] by one of Gretchen's greetings:
143	--> All of the residents are actually lizards [[GenuineHumanHide wearing human skins]].
144	* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' references this trope with the Thin Men, with shades of TheMenInBlack. They look ''[[HughMann mostly]]'' human, like [[NoodlePeople unnaturally tall, lanky]] men in business suits, but Thin Men have patches of scales visible around their collars and sleeves, and their sunglasses hide slitted reptilian eyes. In their natural forms shown in ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' they're SnakePeople, but their masters have put them through extensive alterations to help them infiltrate Earth during the AlienInvasion. Thin Men gather intelligence, act as clandestine go-betweens for the aliens' ruling Ethereal caste as they pressure Earth's governments to surrender, and perform acts of sabotage. In-game, they tend to show up on [[BenevolentConspiracy Council]] missions to menace a VIP, and despite debuting early in the campaign, Thin Men are quite dangerous thanks to their high accuracy with their light plasma rifles, ability to jump up to seize high ground InASingleBound, and [[SuperSpit poisonous spit]].
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Webcomics]]
148	* ''Webcomic/TryingHuman'' has a [[CreepyCute creepily adorable]] take on these among the alien races, called Reptoids. They're divided into two main subspecies: Draconian and Terran Reptoids. The long-tailed Terran Reptoids evolved from Troodon dinosaurs and were uplifted by the winged Draconian Reptoids, making them forever indebted to their benefactors. Both sub-races are capable of shape-shifting and enjoy eating meat, including human.
149	* ''Webcomic/ReptilisRex'' is centered around the "Reptoids" being forced to move to the surface and reveal themselves to mankind, which [[FantasticRacism treats them like second class citizens]]. They can't shapeshift per se but own shapeshifting pets which they can wear as masks, hence there have been an unknown number of Reptoid infiltrators throughout history including [[spoiler:UsefulNotes/BarackObama and Mitt Romney]].
150	* They make a brief appearance in ''Webcomic/RasputinBarxotka'', with their planned invasion of Earth thwarted by the strip's version of TheGreys.
151	* ''Webcomic/{{Hackbent}}'' - Nohmyt, a fan-species of super-intelligent lizard aliens that can shapeshift based on the [[Series/TheTwilightZone1959 Kanamit]].
152	* ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal:'' [[https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/zardax Zardax]] has the titular king of such a conspiracy in the midst of depression, because for ''all'' they do to undermine democracy, control banks and start wars for their own purposes, Jews still get all the credit instead.
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Web Original]]
156	* Website/AboveTopSecret, a large conspiracy site, is a good source for people who believe these creatures exist and are behind global conspiracies.
157	* ''Website/BabylonBee'': Politicians are exempted from COVID lockdown restrictions because [[https://babylonbee.com/news/politicians-officially-exempted-from-lockdown-rules-since-lizard-people-cant-catch-covid their Reptilian nature gives them natural immunity]].
158	* From ''[[Blog/ElChiguireBipolar El Chigüire Bipolar]]'': [[http://www.elchiguirebipolar.net/03-10-2014/maduro-oposicion-irresponsable-no-se-ha-manifestado-contra-lagartos-aliens-asesinos/ Maduro: "The irresponsible opposition hasn't spoken against the murderous alien lizards."]]
159	* ''WebVideo/InternetCommentEtiquette'' has a running gag about reptilian "Cloud People" who have infiltrated society.
160	* ''WebVideo/JonTron'': Referenced in "Workplace Safety", where Jon compares "The Fatal Half-Inch" and its utter paranoia of slight changes in surface elevation to a video made by a {{conspiracy theorist}} who sees "reptoids" everywhere.
161	* ''WebVideo/KilianExperience'' has an episode where it's revealed that theme parks are a reptilian plot to distract humanity.
162	* ''[[https://www.facebook.com/lizardpeopleofny/ Lizard People Of New York]]'' {{parodies}} the popular photoblog ''Humans Of New York'' by re-captioning the photos of humans into portraits of shape-shifting Reptilians.
163	* ''WebVideo/PointCulture's'' episode on cryptids jokingly reveals all Website/YouTube creators are reptilians.
164	* ''Literature/TalesOfMU'' has Celia, a snake-person who focuses on cosmetic illusions.
165	[[/folder]]
166
167	[[folder:Western Animation]]
168	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': In "Keep Beach City Weird", it's revealed that [[ConspiracyTheorist Ronaldo]] blames all the crazy happenings in town on [[MemeticMutation snake people, or "sneople"]], who secretly control the world. He's initially disappointed to find out it's all because of the Gems (to whom the citizens of Beach City are FantasticallyIndifferent), but at the end of the episode Ronaldo is inspired to make up a ([[TheCuckoolanderWasRight surprisingly accurate]]) conspiracy theory about "polymorphic sentient rocks".
169	* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', where the Pope is a Reptilian just like in many a conspiracy theory. The difference is that this is known by everyone, to the point of being a variation of [[IsTheAnswerToThisQuestionYes "Is the Pope Catholic?"]], since [[MundaneFantastic aliens are commonplace]].
170	* In one ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' sketch, it's shown most Hollywood celebrities are actually disguised lizard people infiltrating and manipulating human civilization. Except for Creator/MelGibson, who is not a lizard, but really, ''really'' [[LesCollaborateurs wants to be one]].
171	* On ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', all the high-level executives at the [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]] bent MegaCorp Conglom-O (including the CEO, Mr. Dupette) are [[FunnyAnimal lizards]] with a habit of picking their noses.
172	* The ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "Eclipsed" has the Ophidians, who fought humanity "before cities, before writing", and whose spirits now form a SealedEvilInACan and possess people. They're clearly meant as an AlternateCompanyEquivalent of [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian Conan's]] Serpent Men, merged with classic DC villain Eclipso.
173	* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' episode episode "Aliens Among Us" has ConspiracyTheorist Angie Dinkley claim that the Reptilians are one of the major alien races, and have settled in a city in the center of the Earth.
174	* According to ''WesternAnimation/InsideJob2021'', a secret society of shape-shifting LizardFolk known as Reptoids exists within our own, and they are a major source of funding for [[EvilInc Cognito Inc.]] (namely by paying them not to do anything about {{global warming}} so the world will stay at their preferred temperature). They're rather open about their desire to TakeOverTheWorld to the other species in on TheMasquerade with them, but TheIlluminati doesn't take them seriously.
175	* This trope is briefly alluded to in the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' when Luz's mother is trying to convince her that going to summer camp would be good for her by asking if she has any friends that aren't "imagined, or drawn, or reptilian". [[spoiler:[[{{foreshadowing}} Funnily enough]], a shapeshifting snake demon ends up taking Luz's place on Earth only a couple minutes after this conversation takes place, though she's completely benign (even going on to be Luz's adoptive sister) and she's actually [[EscapedFromTheLab an escaped lab experiment]] rather than being part of a conspiracy.]]
176	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ReptilianConspiracy