Not to be confused with the broader taxonomic classification, humanoid.

A near-human was a type of humanoid whose external features very closely resembled those of humans. It was often difficult for humans to distinguish between themselves and near-humans. In fact, the Doctor's human companions were frequently incredulous that he wasn't human. On one occasion, for instance, Amy Pond said that the Eleventh Doctor looked human, while he remarked that she looked Time Lord. (DW: The Beast Below). Although some species of near-humans — like Trions — seemed more or less biologically identical to humans, many had at least one marked difference to their human cousins:

• Alzarians had a much higher metabolism than humans. (DW: Full Circle)
• Trakenites aged at a much slower rate than humans (BFA: Cobwebs) and had some psychic abilities not usually present in humans (BFA: Primeval).
• Time Lords had several biological differences with humans, including the ability to regenerate, binary vascular systems and respiratory bypass systems.
• Kaleds had a few biological differences to humans, namely having a wider spaced ribcage, purplish tissue (DW: The Stolen Earth), green copper-based blood and a grey heart (BFD: Corruption).

Why there were so many near-human species Edit

One of the more popular theories as to the large number of near-human and humanoid species was that the evolution of Gallifreyans relatively early in the history of the universe affected the morphic fields of other life forms. This influenced the development of later species in a similar direction. (NA: Lucifer Rising)

Another implied that the founding Time Lord, Rassilon, seeded the early planets with biogenic molecules that would develop into humanoids, specifically ones which resembled Gallifreyans. (BFA: Zagreus)

Some claimed that given an Earth-like environment, human-like species would naturally evolve, being the optimal form. (BFD: Corruption)

See also Edit

• Human-derived species