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Reptilian humanoids, oranthropomorphicreptiles, also calledreptiloids, etc., appear infolklore,fiction, andconspiracy theories.
InSouth Asian andSoutheast Asian mythology, theNāga are semi-divine creatures which are half-human and half-snakes.[1]
Claims of sightings of reptilian creatures occur inSouthern United States, whereswamps are common. In the late 1980s, there were hundreds of supposed sightings of a "Lizard Man" inBishopville, South Carolina.[2]
Anthropomorphic reptilian races or beings commonly appear infantasy andscience fiction. They can be based on various reptiles, likelizards,crocodiles,alligators,snakes,dinosaurs, and the fictionaldragons. They are often depicted as powerful warriors, though their relative intelligence to humans varies – as with other anthropomorphic races, a greater resemblance to humans often denotes more "civilized" behavior. Some anthropomorphic reptilians such as lizards and snakes are often associated with jungles, swamps, and other tropical biomes, and as such are seen with cultural elements of similar regions, includingMesoamerican cultures.
TheSerpent Men, reptilian humanoids who can project illusions of human form, appeared as villains throughoutRobert E. Howard'sKing Kull stories starting in 1929 as well as in the linkedCthulhu Mythos.Edgar Rice Burroughs'Pellucidar series featured primitive dinosaur-descended humanoids living in theHollow Earth called theHoribs or snake-men in his 1929–1930 crossoverTarzan at the Earth's Core. These almost simultaneous inventions originated the modern reptilian humanoid trope.[3][4][5][6] In the 1980s, the animated television seriesDino-Riders feature a race called theRulons, of which some individuals were reptilian humanoids, that served as the main antagonist to the protagonist Valorians upon which the series is based. Merchandise based on the series included several series of toys, among which they included replicas of the reptilian Rulons.[7]
Examples of reptilian races in fantasy games are the Lizardmen fromWarhammer as well as Lizardfolk, Dragonborn andKobolds of theDungeons & Dragonstabletop role-playing game.
The Dragonborn in particular – based on the Draconians ofDragonlance, which in that game were uniformly evil – were originally introduced in theDungeons & Dragons 3.5 supplement bookRaces of the Dragon, published byWizards of the Coast in 2006.[8][9][10] In 4th Edition, dragonborn are available as one of the core player character races in thePlayer's Handbook.[11][12]
The dragonborn were introduced to the core rules in an attempt to reflect contemporary trends in fantasy fiction and appeal to newer players.[13][14] In addition, it reflected a perception among the game's designers that it should be possible to play dragon-like creatures in a game with "Dragons" in the title.[13][15]Richard Baker, who helped design 4th Edition, noted that the introduction of dragonborn to the core rules allowed them to "grow the D&D world by allowing the mix of characters to evolve in the new edition."[15] Jonathan Bolding ofThe Escapist noted that the inclusion of the dragonborn in the 5th editionPlayer's Handbook does "push the 'traditionalD&D' mold a bit, but this is a greatest hits ofD&D player races and powers from the last fifteen years of the game."[16]
Anthropomorphic reptilians are also shown in video games, especially in fantasy games. The lizardlikeArgonian race takes a prominent role in the fantasy video game franchiseThe Elder Scrolls. Other examples of reptilian humanoids in fantasy games include the Man-Serpents from the gameElden Ring and the Naga fromWorld of Warcraft.
In works ofscience fiction,aliens are often depicted as closely resemblinganimals, with reptilian aliens being no exception. An early appearance was in the story "The Lizard-Men of Buh-Lo" (1930) byFrancis Flagg.[17] Other examples include theGorn fromStar Trek and theDracs from the filmEnemy Mine (1985).[17]
The television franchiseV features theVisitors, a lizardlike alien race whodisguise themselves as humans.[17]
TheCardassian race featured in multipleStar Trek series, is another example of reptilian humanoids in that particular science fiction universe.[18] The "Tosk" people, featured onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, is another.[19] The "Distant Origin" episode ofStar Trek: Voyager then features the Voth, a race descended from thedinosaurs that had escaped extinction by leaving Earth and relocating to theDelta Quadrant.[20]
On the television seriesDoctor Who, there are also races of reptilian humanoids, such as theSilurians[21] andIce Warriors.
Thereptilian conspiracy theory alleges that shape-shifting reptilian aliens control Earth.[22]
Belief in reptilian humanoids can sometimes be traced to anti-Semitic texts. In one recent example, the perpetrator of the2020 Nashville bombing subscribed to reptilian conspiracy theories that were influenced by the writings ofDavid Icke, who was in turn influenced by the 1903anti-Semitic fabricated textThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion.[23][24][25][26]
In August 1929, he published a story inWeird Tales magazine called 'The Shadow Kingdom' ...
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