Silurian

The Silurians (Homo reptilia) was the most common name applied to a species of intelligent reptilian bipeds that were arguably more accurately known as the Eocenes. Relatives of the Sea Devils, they thrived on the planet Earth prior to the rise of the human race.

Silurian female

Silurian male

Silurian of the Wenley Moor group

Silurians spearheading an invasion of Sea Base 4

History

300 million years before the 21st century, the Silurians were extant on Earth. (DW: "The Hungry Earth") Doctor John Quinn, the first human known to have made contact with their species, made notes on the age of the Earth, with particular reference to the Silurian era. This resulted in the name "Silurian." (DW: "Doctor Who and the Silurians") Despite having adopted the term himself, the Doctor believed this was a misnomer, stating that Quinn had gotten the period wrong and that they should have been called the Eocenes. (DW: "The Sea Devils") He would later concede that this name was also contentious. (DW: "The Hungry Earth")

Their astronomers predicted that a small planet approaching the Earth would collide with their world. They calculated that this event would draw off the atmosphere and destroy all life. (DW: "Doctor Who and the Silurians") Their species built settlements underground and, through the use of hibernation units and cryo-chambers, suspended their lives until the atmosphere returned. (DW: "Doctor Who and the Silurians", "Cold Blood") To avoid the destructive impact forecast for their planet, an ark was launched with thousands of Silurians in stasis pods and fifty species onboard. (DW: "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship") After coming into alignment with Earth, the small planet was drawn into its orbit and became the Moon. (DW: "Doctor Who and the Silurians")

Appendices

Appearances

A list of all appearances of Silurians (excluding appearances of Vastra).

• Doctor Who:
  • "Doctor Who and the Silurians"
  • "The Mind of Evil" (hallucination)
  • "Mawdryn Undead" (archive footage only) (2009 remastering)
  • "Warriors of the Deep"
  • "The Hungry Earth"
  • "Cold Blood"
  • "The Pandorica Opens"
  • "A Good Man Goes to War"
  • "The God Complex" (photograph)
  • "The Wedding of River Song"
  • "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"
  • "The Power of Three" (archive footage only)
  • "Face the Raven"
• Monster Files: "Homo Reptilia" (archive footage only)

References

• Doctor Who:
  • "The Ambassadors of Death"
  • "The Sea Devils"
  • "Battlefield"
  • "Sleep No More"
  • "Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror"
• SJA: Alien Files: "Episode 6"
• Torchwood: "The Blood Line"
• Prequels: "Vastra Investigates"

Background

A maquette displaying an alternative version of the 2010 redesign

Front-on view of an alternative 2010 redesign