Sontarans

The Sontarans are a fictional humanoid alien species in the Doctor Who universe. They are a clone‑based warrior race from the planet Sontar, bred for war and conquest. They first appeared in the 1983 serial The Time Warrior, created for the programme by writer Robert Holmes. They are distinguished by their short, sturdy bodies, greenish skin, and a distinctive dome‑headed helmet worn under heavy armor, giving them a compact and easily recognizable silhouette.

Biology and society: Sontarans reproduce exclusively through cloning, producing vast armies of near‑identical soldiers. Their culture is rigidly hierarchical and militaristic, valuing efficiency, discipline, and tactical ruthlessness. They regard combat as an esteemed craft and pursue campaigns across the galaxy, often clashing with other species, including humans. They are adversaries of the Rutans, their long‑standing cosmic rivals.

Technology and warfare: Sontaran technology emphasizes battlefield effectiveness, armored armor, and siege capabilities. Their warfare strategies revolve around coordinated, disciplined campaigns and massed troops, reflecting their caste‑based military structure. They have appeared in numerous Doctor Who stories across both classic and modern eras, consistently portraying formidable but highly organized opponents.

Notable characters: Commander Linx, introduced in The Time Warrior, is a prominent early Sontaran commander. In the revived series, General Staal features in The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky, while Strax—a Sontaran nurse who becomes an ally of the Doctor—appears in the modern era and later recurs as a comic and supportive figure.

Overall, the Sontarans are one of Doctor Who’s most enduring antagonists, emblematic of a war‑driven, clone‑based society and a design that has remained iconic within the show’s extended universe.