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{{Infobox Object
{{Infobox Species
|image         = [[Image:Cybermat.JPG|350px]]<br/><small>Cybermats (L-R: [[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'', [[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'', Bottom: [[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')</small>
|image       = Cybermat Tomb.jpg
|object name  = Cybermat
|aka        = Cyber rat
|type          = Rodent-Like [[Robot]]s
|affiliation = {{csl|[[Cyber-Empire]]|[[Cyber Legion]]|[[Operation Exodus]]|}}
|origin        = [[Cybermen]]
|origin      = {{csl|[[Mondas]]|[[Telos]]|[[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|Mondasian colony ship]]|}}
|appearances  = [[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]''<br>[[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]''<br>[[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]''<br>[[VG]]: ''[[Blood of the Cybermen]]''
|first      = The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)
}}
|appearances = [[Cybermat/Appearances|'''''see list''''']]
|individuals = {{csl|[[Bitey]]|}}
}}{{ImageLink}}
'''Cybermats''', or '''Cyber rats''', ([[GAME]]: ''[[Hidden Mysteries (video game)|Hidden Mysteries]]'') were small [[cyborg]]s used as advance guards, [[plague]] carriers and energy thieves by the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'' et al)


'''Cybermats''' were small [[cyborg]]s used as advance guards and plague carriers by the [[Cybermen]].
== Physical characteristics ==
=== General ===
The various types of Cybermat all had a metallic body, usually segmented. Some types had eyes, some mouths, and some had cilia. At least one type had visible organic teeth. ([[TV]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'')


==Physical Characteristics==
By some accounts, the Cybermats were created by Cybermen from bodies or body parts of [[humanoid]]s not suitable for [[cyber-conversion]]: small [[animal]]s and [[pet]]s, very young [[child]]ren and [[baby|babies]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scruffy Piper (short story)|The Scruffy Piper]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Illegal Alien (novel)|Illegal Alien]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Crystal of Cantus (audio story)|The Crystal of Cantus]]'')
===Variants===
From early in the Cyberman's history before they froze themselves on [[Telos]], some variants had crystalline eyes and antennae through which they receive commands. These Cybermats tended to resemble oversized metallic [[wikipedia:Silverfish|silverfish]] and have segmented bodies with cilia-like tactile sensor probes along the base of their heads. Some, though not all, small Cybermats of this kind could easily fit in the palm of a [[humanoid]] hand. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')


In the [[21st century]] when the Cybermen attempted to infiltrate [[Space Station W3]] they had photoreceptors for eyes rather than crystalline based eyes. Otherwise they looked similar. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'')
The Cybermats' jaws were lubricated with a potent [[neurotoxin]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Quintessence (audio story)}})


When the Cybermen infiltrated [[Nerva Beacon]] in a plot to destroy [[Voga]] the Cybermats had segmented, eyeless, flat worm-like bodies without cilia. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
=== Variants ===
Prior to [[Mondas]]' total [[cyber-conversion]] by [[Cyber-Commander]] [[Zheng]], the last surviving [[Mondasian]]s kept Cybermats as [[pet]]s, and were simply referred to as "Mats". Some Mondasians could become "Mat Catchers". During this time, Cybermats came in numerous different versions, such as Deluxe Mark Sixes; Deluxe Mark Twelves, a [[black]] variant of Cybermat, were exclusively used by the [[Central Committee of Mondas|Central Committee]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'')


Cybermen from the [[30th century]] who [[time travel|traveled back]] to [[1940]] also employed Cybermats and harvested [[Human]]s to make more of them. ([[PDA]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'')
Before the [[CyberTelosian]]s froze themselves on [[Telos]], some Cybermats had crystalline eyes and antennae through which they received commands. These Cybermats resembled oversized metallic {{w|silverfish}}. They had segmented bodies with cilia-like tactile sensor probes along the bases of their heads. Some, though not all, Cybermats of this kind could fit in the palm of a [[humanoid]] hand. Cybermats like this were almost unnoticeable. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')


===Weaknesses===
In the [[21st century]], when the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] of the Late [[CyberFaction]] attempted to infiltrate [[Space Station W3]], they had photoreceptors for eyes rather than crystal-based eyes, spines down their backs and lacked the antennae. Otherwise, they looked similar to the kind seen on Telos. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
Cybermats shared the Cyberman's weakness for [[gold]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') They could also be disabled with electric charges. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'') Also, they could be either stunned or de-activated by a sonic pulse, like the sonic screwdriver. (VG: [[Blood of the Cybermen]])


==History==
When some [[CyberNomad]]s infiltrated [[Nerva Beacon]] in a plot to destroy [[Voga]], the Cybermats had segmented, eyeless, flat worm-like bodies without cilia. They had needles which injected [[poison]] into humans, but they could also inject [[gold]] dust into Cybermen. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') The Cybermats of the [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|Mondasian colony ship]] were also capable of poisoning Mondasians. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alit in Underland (short story)|Alit in Underland]]'')
The Cybermats originated on [[Mondas]] during the earliest phases of Cyberman history, when most of the [[planet]] had not yet converted. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Spare Parts]]'')


The Cyber-tombs on Telos had tunnels for the Cybermats to move out through from the tombs into the main control rooms. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')
One Cybermat variant - used by space-faring Cybermen resembling those of [[Cybus Industries]] - was a sleeker and more high-tech version of the Telosian Cybermats. Unlike the Telosian version, these Cybermats were purposed with biting humans and infecting them with a [[virus]], much like the Cybermats at the Nerva Beacon. However, instead of being deadly, the virus mutated flesh into metal and the victims became [[Cyberslave]]s. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Blood of the Cybermen (video game)|Blood of the Cybermen]]'')


Some accounts show that the Cybermats were created by Cybermen using bodies (or parts of bodies) of humanoids not suitable for Cyber-conversion; very young children or babies. ([[PDA]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'', [[BFBS]]: ''[[The Crystal of Cantus]]'')
One [[Cyberleader (Altered Status)|Cyberleader]], stranded on [[New Damson|Morabolis]], used microscopic Cybermats to partially convert all administration on the planet into [[the Suits]]. These maintained control over these people, making them behave as Cybermen while resources were being gathered to [[Cyber-conversion|fully convert]] the population. Since they were linked to the Cyberleader, when he was killed by [[Sogo]], all the thousands of Cybermats controlling each individual left their hosts and initiated [[self-destruct]], restoring their autonomy. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Altered Status (audio story)|Altered Status]]'')


They were also used to transform humans into Cyberslaves on the Cybermen's attempted rivival in the Arctic. (VG: [[Blood of the Cybermen]])
The Cybermen of the [[Cyber Legion]]s used a type of Cybermat that drain [[electricity]]. This Cybermat had [[black]], teardrop-eyes, like most Cybermen, and an opening mouth with organic [[Tooth|teeth]]. One such Cybermat was used by the Cybermen of a crashed [[Cyber-ship (Closing Time)|Cyber-ship]] to harvest electricity from the cabling underneath Sandersons and Granger on [[Earth]] in the early 21st century. ([[TV]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'')
 
==== Similar counterparts ====
Later, during the [[Cyber-Wars]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Girl Called Doubt (short story)|A Girl Called Doubt]]'') the Cyber Legions used smaller drones called [[Cybermite]]s, which the [[Eleventh Doctor]] realised was an example of how the Cybermen had evolved. ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'') These highly-evolved Cybermats were often seeded into [[planet]]s conquered by the Cyber Legions, and reproduced naturally by harvesting [[mineral]]s from the planets to construct more Cybermites; this process would be repeated by the newly-constructed Cybermites, and after several [[month]]s, or even [[year]]s, the Cybermites would number in the billions, with the power to successfully fully convert people into Cybermen. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Girl Called Doubt (short story)|A Girl Called Doubt]]'') Cybermites could also perform more traditional Cybermat functions, such as harvesting electricity or being highly covert spies. ([[TV]]: ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'')
 
[[Mechanising Worm]]s, which were used by the Cybermen of the [[Cyber-Mainframe]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Telepresence (audio story)|Telepresence]]'', ''[[Code Silver (audio story)|Code Silver]]'') were highly reminiscent of Cybermats, in particular the Cybermats used on [[Nerva Beacon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') Unlike Cybermats, however, they could be broadcast across dimensional gaps, and could perform partial conversions as part of the creation of a [[dimension bridge]] between [[universe]]s, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Telepresence (audio story)|Telepresence]]'') or for full conversions, the latter of which could occur if a dead Cyberman was salvaged; each Cyberman contained a swarm of Mechanising Worms, which would attempt to upgrade the Cyberman's attackers to create replacement Cybermen. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Code Silver (audio story)|Code Silver]]'')
 
=== Weaknesses ===
[[File:Inside a Cybermat RotC.jpg|thumb|The internals of a Cybermat used by the [[CyberNomad]]s on [[Nerva Beacon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')]]
Cybermats shared the Cybermen's weakness for [[gold]], but it was possible for gold to be placed inside them without damaging their systems and the gold could be injected into Cybermen as they would inject other humanoids. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') They could also be disabled with electric charges, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'') although this weakness seems to have been eliminated later; one was used to siphon electricity from power sources instead. The same model proved vulnerable to the [[the Doctor's sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdriver]], which was able to either stun or fry the Cybermat memory. ([[TV]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'') They could also be disabled with a sonic pulse, using an amplifier. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Blood of the Cybermen (video game)|Blood of the Cybermen]]'')
 
The Cybermats of the [[Colony ship (World Enough and Time)|Mondasian colony ship]] contained a failsafe system - that they inherited from the [[Patient (World Enough and Time)|patients]], and was shared with the evolved [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] - that, if turned on, would force them to stay on [[Floor 1056]] of the colony ship; their programming could be hacked to [[Deadlock seal|deadlock]] this system on, trapping them at the bottom of the ship. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alit in Underland (short story)|Alit in Underland]]) ''However, the Cybermen were eventually able to work around this and deactivated the system, allowing the Cybermats to function properly again. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)|Twice Upon a Time]]'')
 
== History ==
=== The Mondasian colony ship ===
The [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] of [[Operation Exodus]], who evolved from the [[Mondasian]]s of [[Floor 1056]] onboard a [[colony ship (World Enough and Time)|Mondasian colony ship]], ([[TV]]: ''[[World Enough and Time (TV story)|World Enough and Time]]'', ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'') developed Cybermats. A group of [[CyberNeomorph]]s, under orders from a [[Cyber-Planner (Alit in Underland)|Cyber-Planner]], travelled to [[Floor 0508]] and attempted to use a swarm of Cybermats to [[poison]] the Mondasians of [[Floor 0507]] so that they would be easier to capture for [[cyber-conversion]]. However, [[Missy]] was able to use the colony ship's systems to hack into the Cybermats' programming, allowing her to reactivate and [[deadlock seal|deadlock]] an old failsafe system that {{Simm}} built into the [[Patient (World Enough and Time)|patients]] developed in the [[Hospital (World Enough and Time)|hospital]] on Floor 1056, causing the Cybermats to return to the bottom of the ship and remain trapped there. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Alit in Underland (short story)|Alit in Underland]]'') Eventually, however, this system was deactivated again by the Cybermen, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)|Twice Upon a Time]]'') as after [[Nardole]] and most of the Mondasian evacuees of Floor 0507 [[Evacuation|evacuated]] to [[Floor 0502]] following the [[Battle of Floor 0507]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'') large groups of Cybermats continually travelled to their location, arriving at the [[solar farm]] every [[spring]] for several [[Century|centuries]], even after Nardole's [[death]], though by that time the Mondasians had "sorted" their conflict with the Cybermen. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)|Twice Upon a Time]]'')
 
=== Mondas ===
[[File:Caterpillars Good Soldier.jpg|thumb|The "caterpillars". ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Good Soldier (comic story)|The Good Soldier]]'')]]
Cybermats were also developed on [[Mondas]] before the last surviving underground Mondasian city been converted. They were kept as [[pet]]s. The [[Fifth Doctor]] reprogrammed a swarm of Cybermats to feed off their [[electricity]] supply of the [[Central Committee of Mondas]], killing them. His efforts were, ultimately, in vain as eventually all of the [[Mondasian]]s underwent forced [[cyber-conversion]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Spare Parts (audio story)|Spare Parts]]'') They went on to convert stray [[animal]]s into Cybermats to act as an advance guard against intruders to the city. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Quintessence (audio story)}})
 
=== Late 19th and early 20th centuries ===
[[File:Flower Power Cybermat.jpg|thumb|The [[Second Doctor]] finds some dead Cybermats. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Flower Power (comic story)|Flower Power]]'')|left]]
In [[1879]], on [[Winston Churchill]]'s fifth [[birthday]], someone that young Winston interpreted to be a [[Punch and Judy]] man arrived and began tracking a miniature [[crocodile]]. The man, who wore a [[the Doctor's scarf|long multi-coloured scarf]], called Churchill "Winnie". Churchill found himself enjoying the company of the strange man. The figure, actually the [[Fourth Doctor]], eventually caught and smashed the crocodile, actually a [[Cybermat (The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill)|Cybermat]], before disappearing in his [[the Doctor's TARDIS|Punch and Judy box]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill (short story)|The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill]]'')
 
In the mid-[[20th century]], the [[CyberMondan|Cybermen]] of Mondas used [[caterpillar]]-like creatures which [[Ace]] identified as [[drone]]s. These drones were fitted with [[fire extinguisher]]s and were capable of loading [[cargo]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Good Soldier (comic story)|The Good Soldier]]'')
 
Cybermats appeared on a [[Planet (Flower Power)|planet]] which the [[CyberMondan|CyberMondasians]] had occupied. The [[Second Doctor]] and his [[grandchildren]], [[John Who|John]] and [[Gillian Who]], found three [[dead]] Cybermats in a [[meadow]] of [[flower]]s. Determining that the Cybermats had been killed by the unique scent of the flowers, the three travellers used the flowers to get past the Cybermen and escape their [[Cyber-City (Flower Power)|Cyber-City]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Flower Power (comic story)|Flower Power]]'')
 
=== Late 20th century ===
Following the [[Cyberman invasion of Earth (The Invasion)|first invasion of Earth]], [[Gareth Arnold]] uncovered a [[Cyber-ship]] that had crashed in [[Cambridge]] many years beforehand and experimented with the technology that had survived. Using Cybermats, Arnold attempted to convert all of Cambridge, but was stopped by the [[Third Doctor]]. The Cybermen that Arnold had created went into stasis on the ship, awaiting an activation signal. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Blue Tooth (audio story)|The Blue Tooth]]'')
 
[[Cyberman (The Piper)|One Cyberman]] managed to cannibalise garbage it found in the [[London]] [[sewer]]s to repair itself and create a considerable amount of Cybermats. The [[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant]] stopped it from infecting an entire [[hospital]] with [[Cybermite]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Piper (short story)|The Piper]]'') According to another account, Jo did not encounter any Cybermats until she visited [[Mondas]], some time after [[Clifford Jones]]'s death. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Quintessence (audio story)}})
 
=== 21st century ===
==== Early 21st century ====
On [[GSO Arctic Drilling Station]] in [[2010]], most of the crew had been converted into [[Cyberslave]]s by the Cybermat's [[Cyber-virus|nanovirus]]. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] repelled the Cybermats with a specific frequency on a sonic amplifier device and found a cure for the nanovirus to treat [[Chisholm]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Blood of the Cybermen (video game)|Blood of the Cybermen]]'')
 
In [[2011]], a group of Cybermen who had crashed on Earth centuries before were able to make their way to the surface. A Cybermat was used to drain electrical energy for the crashed Cybership so they could begin full Cyber Conversions. One was named "[[Bitey]]" by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] for its organic mouth. The Doctor reprogrammed it to drain power from the Cybership, but a Cyberman stepped on Bitey, destroying it. ([[TV]]: ''[[Closing Time (TV story)|Closing Time]]'')
 
The Cybermats were used to guard the Cyberfactory when the [[Ninth Cyber Legion]] invaded [[London]] in [[2012]]. The Cybermats were destroyed with the Cyberfactory. ([[GAME]]: ''[[The Eternity Clock (video game)|The Eternity Clock]]'')
 
==== Late 21st century ====
[[File:Wheel in Space Cybermat.jpg|thumb|A Cybermat on [[Space Station W3]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')]]
During the late [[CyberFaction]]'s attack on [[Space Station W3]] in the [[year]] [[2079]], Cybermats were deployed by the [[Cybermen]] following the orders of the [[Cyber-Planner (The Wheel in Space)]]. These Cybermats proceeded to consume the [[space station]]'s store of [[bernalium]] need to power the [[x-ray]] [[laser]], leaving the station vulnerable to [[meteorite]]s. They were discovered by [[engineer]] [[Bill Duggan]] before scurrying away. Elsewhere, the Cybermats attacked and killed engineer [[Kemel Rudkin]]. Ultimately, the [[Second Doctor]] neutralised the Cybermats by jamming their audio frequency, causing them to disintegrate. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
=== 23rd century ===
The Cybermats appeared to have something to do with the conversion process. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Dreadnought (comic story)|Dreadnought]]'')
 
=== Telos ===
The [[Cyber-tomb]]s on [[Telos]] had tunnels for the [[Telosian]] Cybermats to move from the tombs to the main control rooms. Along with the [[CyberTelosian]]s, these Cybermats lay dormant until Telos was found by the [[Brotherhood of Logicians]]. A small Cybermat was found by [[Victoria Waterfield]]. When the Cybermen were reawoken, this Cybermat became active and attacked the [[Kaftan]] as she held Victoria at [[gun]]point, rendering the Logician unconscious and inadvertently saving Victoria, who destroyed it with Kaftan's gun. Larger Cybermats were used by the [[CyberTelosian Controller]] to attack the [[human]]s after he and the other Cybermen were trapped underground by the [[Second Doctor]]. The doctor was able to disable the Cybermats with an electric cable. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')
 
Cybermats were also seen on the surface of Telos when the [[Twelfth Doctor]] sent "[[Lumpy]]" the [[Dalek]] there to retrieve one of the pieces of the [[Orb of Fates]], which was hidden in some ice. ([[GAME]]: ''[[The Doctor and the Dalek (video game)|The Doctor and the Dalek]]'')
 
=== Nerva Beacon ===
[[File:Jumping Cybermat.jpg|thumb|A Cybermat on [[Nerva Beacon]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')|left]]
Cybermats were used by the [[CyberNomad]]s in their attack on [[Nerva Beacon]]. Transmitting [[venom]] with a [[bite]], these Cybermats first infected crewman [[Warner (Revenge of the Cybermen)|Warner]], who soon [[died]]. A Cybermat then attacked [[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[companion]] of the [[Fourth Doctor]] who [[kill]]ed the Cybermat with [[gold]] [[dust]] before curing Sarah. Taking control of a Cybermat, the Doctor used it to threaten [[Kellman]], the Cybermen's [[human]] ally. Later, the Doctor filled the Cybermat with gold dust and used it to a Cyberman, injecting it with the dust and killing it. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
 
=== Orion War ===
<br />
 
In [[2503]], a Cybermat smuggled itself aboard the ''[[Vanguard (Sword of Orion)|Vanguard]]'' and began sabotaging its systems. [[Vol]] shot it, disabling its weapons, but the Cybermen reprogrammed it to take control of the crew's minds. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Sword of Orion (audio story)|Sword of Orion]]'')
 
After the Cybermen took control of Earth, Cybermats were deployed in the sewers to find any members of the underground resistance. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Outsiders (audio story)|Outsiders]]'')
 
=== 30th century ===
Cybermen from the [[30th century]] who [[time travel|travelled back]] to [[1940]] also employed Cybermats and harvested [[human]]s to make more of them. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Illegal Alien (novel)|Illegal Alien]]'')
 
=== 54th century ===
[[File:Bidding War Cybermat.jpg|thumb|A Cybermat in the [[54th century]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Bidding War (comic story)|The Bidding War]]'')]]
During the [[5320s]], the [[Cyber-Empire]] had a [[Cybermat (The Bidding War)|Cybermat]] delivered to [[Addison Delamar]] so they could harvest the [[Ninth Doctor]]'s [[memory|memories]] of the [[Last Great Time War]]. The Cybermat managed to partially convert Delamar before [[Tara Mishra]] used [[gold]] to destroy it. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Bidding War (comic story)|The Bidding War]]'')
 
=== Third Cyberwar ===
During the early [[year]]s of the [[Third Cyberwar]], [[weapons-grade Cybermen]] sent hundreds of [[Cyber Legion]] Cybermats to attack [[Space Station Hamlyn]]. However, the Cybermats were all lured to defeat by the [[Second Doctor]], using [[The Doctor's recorder|his recorder]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Scruffy Piper (short story)|The Scruffy Piper]]'')
 
=== Undated events ===
[[File:Ice Warriors meet Cybermats.jpg|thumb|Cybermats found by the [[Ice Warrior]]s on [[Yama-10]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Deathworld (comic story)|Deathworld]]'')|left]]
On the [[planet]] [[Yama-10]], the Cyberman planted hundreds of Cybermats capable of squirting [[poison]] on a [[camp]] of [[Ice Warrior]]s led by [[Commander]] [[Yinak]], who ordered their destruction. Though the Cybermats were believed to have all been destroyed, the Ice Warriors soon came into conflict with the Cybermen themselves. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Deathworld (comic story)|Deathworld]]'')
 
A [[Cybermat (Party Animals)|Cybermat]] attended [[Bonjaxx]]'s [[birthday party]] at [[Bonjaxx's Bar]] on [[Maruthea]], which resulted in a [[bar fight]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Party Animals (comic story)|Party Animals]]'')
 
{{Ainley|c}} once forced [[the Graak]] to steal a disabled Cybermat. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Destiny of the Doctors (video game)|Destiny of the Doctors]]'')
 
[[Missy]] once goaded the [[Twelfth Doctor]] into following her through various [[time period]]s while she stole valuable items. The Doctor was too late to stop her each time. Finally catching up with her in the [[Stone Age]], the Doctor revealed to her that he had discovered her true plan: to leave Cybermats behind where she stole each item. Missy expressed her desire to further reveal her plan to him. The Doctor instead refused to listen and boarded the TARDIS in search of some lunch. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Dr. Twelfth (novel)|Dr. Twelfth]]'')
 
=== Alternate timeline ===
[[File:Prologue The Eighth Doctor.jpg|thumb|left|A swarm of Cybermats attack the [[Eighth Doctor]]'s [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prologue: The Eighth Doctor (comic story)|Prologue: The Eighth Doctor]]'')]]
In an [[Alternate timeline (Supremacy of the Cybermen)|alternate timeline]] where {{Sumpter}} and the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] conquered all of [[time]] and [[space]], the [[Eighth Doctor]] and [[Josie Day]] encountered Cybermats, along with some Cybermen, on a spaceship. In particular, a swarm of Cybermats covered [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] when the duo attempted to escape. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Prologue: The Eighth Doctor (comic story)|Prologue: The Eighth Doctor]]'') This event was erased from history following the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and Rassilon’s efforts to [[Regeneration|regenerate]] the [[N-Space|universe]] through the [[Eye of Harmony]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Supremacy of the Cybermen (comic story)|Supremacy of the Cybermen]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
[[File:LEGO Dimensions Cybermat.jpg|thumb|A Cybermat as seen in ''LEGO Dimensions''.]]
* {{w|Wood lice}} inspired the creation and look of the Cybermats. In their first appearances in ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen (TV story)|The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'' and ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'', they were realised in the studio by a variety of techniques, including clockwork and radio-controlled models. In some shots they were pulled by wires or simply pushed into view. Shots of the Cybermats leaping onto their victims were achieved by pulling the Cybermat away with wires and playing the film backwards.
* Cybermat effects in ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' used a combination of strings, puppetry and [[CSO]]. The Cybermats (or rather the single Cybermat which appeared) went through a radical re-design and resembled a cybernetic {{w|silverfish}}.
* ''[[The Doctor Who Role Playing Game]]: [[The Cybermen (reference book)|The Cybermen]]'' identifies the Cybermats seen in ''The Moonbase'', ''The Wheel in Space'' and ''Revenge of the Cybermen'' as Model I, II and III respectively
* Cybermats identical to [[Bitey]] appear as enemies in the [[video game]] ''[[Legacy (video game)|Doctor Who: Legacy]]''. They feature in both closed and open [[mouth]] variants, with the latter being enlarged for an additional giant variant.
* The Cybermats appear as minor villains in ''[[LEGO Dimensions (video game)|LEGO Dimensions]]'', sporting a design that has not yet been used in any other ''[[Doctor Who]]''-related material.
* They were supposed to appear in ''[[The Invasion (TV story)|The Invasion]]'' and ''[[Silver Nemesis (TV story)|Silver Nemesis]]'', but were dropped.
 
== External links ==
{{Dwlx}}
{{ldx}}
 
{{Cyberman variants}}
{{NameSort}}
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==Behind the Scenes==
*[[Wikipedia:wood lice|Wood lice]] inspired the creation and look of the Cybermats. In their first appearance in ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'' and ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'', they were realized in the studio by a number of techniques including clockwork and radio-controlled models. In some shots they were pulled by wires or simply pushed into shot. Shots of the Cybermats leaping onto their victims were achieved by pulling the Cybermat away via wires and then playing the film backwards.
*Cybermat effects in ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' used a combination of strings, puppetry and [[CSO]], which did not look very convincing. The Cybermats (or rather the single Cybermat which appeared) went through a radical re-design and resembled a cybernetic [[Wikipedia:silverfish|silverfish]]. To date, the Cybermats have not appeared in any other television stories.
[[File:Blood of the Cybermen concept art 3.jpg|thumb|250px|The new Cybermats.]]
*The Cybermats will appear in the new [[The Adventure Games|Adventure Games]] episode [[Blood of the Cybermen]]
{{Cyberman_variants}}
{{season 5 aliens}}
{{season 12 aliens}}
[[Category:Cyber-technology]]
[[Category:Living weapons]]
[[Category:Living weapons]]
[[Category:Cyborgs]]
[[Category:Mondasian species]]
[[Category:Second Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Cyborg species]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Robots]]
[[Category:Eleventh Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Pets and mascots]]
[[Category:The Master's possessions]]
[[Category:Cybermats|*]]

Latest revision as of 14:06, 11 October 2024

Cybermats, or Cyber rats, (GAME: Hidden Mysteries) were small cyborgs used as advance guards, plague carriers and energy thieves by the Cybermen. (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen et al)

Physical characteristics[[edit] | [edit source]]

General[[edit] | [edit source]]

The various types of Cybermat all had a metallic body, usually segmented. Some types had eyes, some mouths, and some had cilia. At least one type had visible organic teeth. (TV: Closing Time)

By some accounts, the Cybermats were created by Cybermen from bodies or body parts of humanoids not suitable for cyber-conversion: small animals and pets, very young children and babies. (PROSE: The Scruffy Piper, AUDIO: Spare Parts, PROSE: Illegal Alien, AUDIO: The Crystal of Cantus)

The Cybermats' jaws were lubricated with a potent neurotoxin. (AUDIO: The Quintessence [+]Loading...["The Quintessence (audio story)"])

Variants[[edit] | [edit source]]

Prior to Mondas' total cyber-conversion by Cyber-Commander Zheng, the last surviving Mondasians kept Cybermats as pets, and were simply referred to as "Mats". Some Mondasians could become "Mat Catchers". During this time, Cybermats came in numerous different versions, such as Deluxe Mark Sixes; Deluxe Mark Twelves, a black variant of Cybermat, were exclusively used by the Central Committee. (AUDIO: Spare Parts)

Before the CyberTelosians froze themselves on Telos, some Cybermats had crystalline eyes and antennae through which they received commands. These Cybermats resembled oversized metallic silverfish. They had segmented bodies with cilia-like tactile sensor probes along the bases of their heads. Some, though not all, Cybermats of this kind could fit in the palm of a humanoid hand. Cybermats like this were almost unnoticeable. (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

In the 21st century, when the Cybermen of the Late CyberFaction attempted to infiltrate Space Station W3, they had photoreceptors for eyes rather than crystal-based eyes, spines down their backs and lacked the antennae. Otherwise, they looked similar to the kind seen on Telos. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

When some CyberNomads infiltrated Nerva Beacon in a plot to destroy Voga, the Cybermats had segmented, eyeless, flat worm-like bodies without cilia. They had needles which injected poison into humans, but they could also inject gold dust into Cybermen. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen) The Cybermats of the Mondasian colony ship were also capable of poisoning Mondasians. (PROSE: Alit in Underland)

One Cybermat variant - used by space-faring Cybermen resembling those of Cybus Industries - was a sleeker and more high-tech version of the Telosian Cybermats. Unlike the Telosian version, these Cybermats were purposed with biting humans and infecting them with a virus, much like the Cybermats at the Nerva Beacon. However, instead of being deadly, the virus mutated flesh into metal and the victims became Cyberslaves. (GAME: Blood of the Cybermen)

One Cyberleader, stranded on Morabolis, used microscopic Cybermats to partially convert all administration on the planet into the Suits. These maintained control over these people, making them behave as Cybermen while resources were being gathered to fully convert the population. Since they were linked to the Cyberleader, when he was killed by Sogo, all the thousands of Cybermats controlling each individual left their hosts and initiated self-destruct, restoring their autonomy. (AUDIO: Altered Status)

The Cybermen of the Cyber Legions used a type of Cybermat that drain electricity. This Cybermat had black, teardrop-eyes, like most Cybermen, and an opening mouth with organic teeth. One such Cybermat was used by the Cybermen of a crashed Cyber-ship to harvest electricity from the cabling underneath Sandersons and Granger on Earth in the early 21st century. (TV: Closing Time)

Similar counterparts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Later, during the Cyber-Wars, (PROSE: A Girl Called Doubt) the Cyber Legions used smaller drones called Cybermites, which the Eleventh Doctor realised was an example of how the Cybermen had evolved. (TV: Nightmare in Silver) These highly-evolved Cybermats were often seeded into planets conquered by the Cyber Legions, and reproduced naturally by harvesting minerals from the planets to construct more Cybermites; this process would be repeated by the newly-constructed Cybermites, and after several months, or even years, the Cybermites would number in the billions, with the power to successfully fully convert people into Cybermen. (PROSE: A Girl Called Doubt) Cybermites could also perform more traditional Cybermat functions, such as harvesting electricity or being highly covert spies. (TV: Nightmare in Silver)

Mechanising Worms, which were used by the Cybermen of the Cyber-Mainframe, (AUDIO: Telepresence, Code Silver) were highly reminiscent of Cybermats, in particular the Cybermats used on Nerva Beacon. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen) Unlike Cybermats, however, they could be broadcast across dimensional gaps, and could perform partial conversions as part of the creation of a dimension bridge between universes, (AUDIO: Telepresence) or for full conversions, the latter of which could occur if a dead Cyberman was salvaged; each Cyberman contained a swarm of Mechanising Worms, which would attempt to upgrade the Cyberman's attackers to create replacement Cybermen. (AUDIO: Code Silver)

Weaknesses[[edit] | [edit source]]

The internals of a Cybermat used by the CyberNomads on Nerva Beacon. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen)

Cybermats shared the Cybermen's weakness for gold, but it was possible for gold to be placed inside them without damaging their systems and the gold could be injected into Cybermen as they would inject other humanoids. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen) They could also be disabled with electric charges, (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen) although this weakness seems to have been eliminated later; one was used to siphon electricity from power sources instead. The same model proved vulnerable to the sonic screwdriver, which was able to either stun or fry the Cybermat memory. (TV: Closing Time) They could also be disabled with a sonic pulse, using an amplifier. (GAME: Blood of the Cybermen)

The Cybermats of the Mondasian colony ship contained a failsafe system - that they inherited from the patients, and was shared with the evolved Cybermen - that, if turned on, would force them to stay on Floor 1056 of the colony ship; their programming could be hacked to deadlock this system on, trapping them at the bottom of the ship. (PROSE: Alit in Underland) However, the Cybermen were eventually able to work around this and deactivated the system, allowing the Cybermats to function properly again. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Mondasian colony ship[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cybermen of Operation Exodus, who evolved from the Mondasians of Floor 1056 onboard a Mondasian colony ship, (TV: World Enough and Time, The Doctor Falls) developed Cybermats. A group of CyberNeomorphs, under orders from a Cyber-Planner, travelled to Floor 0508 and attempted to use a swarm of Cybermats to poison the Mondasians of Floor 0507 so that they would be easier to capture for cyber-conversion. However, Missy was able to use the colony ship's systems to hack into the Cybermats' programming, allowing her to reactivate and deadlock an old failsafe system that the Saxon Master built into the patients developed in the hospital on Floor 1056, causing the Cybermats to return to the bottom of the ship and remain trapped there. (PROSE: Alit in Underland) Eventually, however, this system was deactivated again by the Cybermen, (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time) as after Nardole and most of the Mondasian evacuees of Floor 0507 evacuated to Floor 0502 following the Battle of Floor 0507, (TV: The Doctor Falls) large groups of Cybermats continually travelled to their location, arriving at the solar farm every spring for several centuries, even after Nardole's death, though by that time the Mondasians had "sorted" their conflict with the Cybermen. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time)

Mondas[[edit] | [edit source]]

The "caterpillars". (COMIC: The Good Soldier)

Cybermats were also developed on Mondas before the last surviving underground Mondasian city been converted. They were kept as pets. The Fifth Doctor reprogrammed a swarm of Cybermats to feed off their electricity supply of the Central Committee of Mondas, killing them. His efforts were, ultimately, in vain as eventually all of the Mondasians underwent forced cyber-conversion. (AUDIO: Spare Parts) They went on to convert stray animals into Cybermats to act as an advance guard against intruders to the city. (AUDIO: The Quintessence [+]Loading...["The Quintessence (audio story)"])

Late 19th and early 20th centuries[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Second Doctor finds some dead Cybermats. (COMIC: Flower Power)

In 1879, on Winston Churchill's fifth birthday, someone that young Winston interpreted to be a Punch and Judy man arrived and began tracking a miniature crocodile. The man, who wore a long multi-coloured scarf, called Churchill "Winnie". Churchill found himself enjoying the company of the strange man. The figure, actually the Fourth Doctor, eventually caught and smashed the crocodile, actually a Cybermat, before disappearing in his Punch and Judy box. (PROSE: The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill)

In the mid-20th century, the Cybermen of Mondas used caterpillar-like creatures which Ace identified as drones. These drones were fitted with fire extinguishers and were capable of loading cargo. (COMIC: The Good Soldier)

Cybermats appeared on a planet which the CyberMondasians had occupied. The Second Doctor and his grandchildren, John and Gillian Who, found three dead Cybermats in a meadow of flowers. Determining that the Cybermats had been killed by the unique scent of the flowers, the three travellers used the flowers to get past the Cybermen and escape their Cyber-City. (COMIC: Flower Power)

Late 20th century[[edit] | [edit source]]

Following the first invasion of Earth, Gareth Arnold uncovered a Cyber-ship that had crashed in Cambridge many years beforehand and experimented with the technology that had survived. Using Cybermats, Arnold attempted to convert all of Cambridge, but was stopped by the Third Doctor. The Cybermen that Arnold had created went into stasis on the ship, awaiting an activation signal. (AUDIO: The Blue Tooth)

One Cyberman managed to cannibalise garbage it found in the London sewers to repair itself and create a considerable amount of Cybermats. The Third Doctor and Jo Grant stopped it from infecting an entire hospital with Cybermites. (PROSE: The Piper) According to another account, Jo did not encounter any Cybermats until she visited Mondas, some time after Clifford Jones's death. (AUDIO: The Quintessence [+]Loading...["The Quintessence (audio story)"])

21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early 21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

On GSO Arctic Drilling Station in 2010, most of the crew had been converted into Cyberslaves by the Cybermat's nanovirus. The Eleventh Doctor repelled the Cybermats with a specific frequency on a sonic amplifier device and found a cure for the nanovirus to treat Chisholm. (GAME: Blood of the Cybermen)

In 2011, a group of Cybermen who had crashed on Earth centuries before were able to make their way to the surface. A Cybermat was used to drain electrical energy for the crashed Cybership so they could begin full Cyber Conversions. One was named "Bitey" by the Eleventh Doctor for its organic mouth. The Doctor reprogrammed it to drain power from the Cybership, but a Cyberman stepped on Bitey, destroying it. (TV: Closing Time)

The Cybermats were used to guard the Cyberfactory when the Ninth Cyber Legion invaded London in 2012. The Cybermats were destroyed with the Cyberfactory. (GAME: The Eternity Clock)

Late 21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

During the late CyberFaction's attack on Space Station W3 in the year 2079, Cybermats were deployed by the Cybermen following the orders of the Cyber-Planner (The Wheel in Space). These Cybermats proceeded to consume the space station's store of bernalium need to power the x-ray laser, leaving the station vulnerable to meteorites. They were discovered by engineer Bill Duggan before scurrying away. Elsewhere, the Cybermats attacked and killed engineer Kemel Rudkin. Ultimately, the Second Doctor neutralised the Cybermats by jamming their audio frequency, causing them to disintegrate. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

23rd century[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cybermats appeared to have something to do with the conversion process. (COMIC: Dreadnought)

Telos[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cyber-tombs on Telos had tunnels for the Telosian Cybermats to move from the tombs to the main control rooms. Along with the CyberTelosians, these Cybermats lay dormant until Telos was found by the Brotherhood of Logicians. A small Cybermat was found by Victoria Waterfield. When the Cybermen were reawoken, this Cybermat became active and attacked the Kaftan as she held Victoria at gunpoint, rendering the Logician unconscious and inadvertently saving Victoria, who destroyed it with Kaftan's gun. Larger Cybermats were used by the CyberTelosian Controller to attack the humans after he and the other Cybermen were trapped underground by the Second Doctor. The doctor was able to disable the Cybermats with an electric cable. (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

Cybermats were also seen on the surface of Telos when the Twelfth Doctor sent "Lumpy" the Dalek there to retrieve one of the pieces of the Orb of Fates, which was hidden in some ice. (GAME: The Doctor and the Dalek)

Nerva Beacon[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cybermats were used by the CyberNomads in their attack on Nerva Beacon. Transmitting venom with a bite, these Cybermats first infected crewman Warner, who soon died. A Cybermat then attacked Sarah Jane Smith, companion of the Fourth Doctor who killed the Cybermat with gold dust before curing Sarah. Taking control of a Cybermat, the Doctor used it to threaten Kellman, the Cybermen's human ally. Later, the Doctor filled the Cybermat with gold dust and used it to a Cyberman, injecting it with the dust and killing it. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen)

Orion War[[edit] | [edit source]]


In 2503, a Cybermat smuggled itself aboard the Vanguard and began sabotaging its systems. Vol shot it, disabling its weapons, but the Cybermen reprogrammed it to take control of the crew's minds. (AUDIO: Sword of Orion)

After the Cybermen took control of Earth, Cybermats were deployed in the sewers to find any members of the underground resistance. (AUDIO: Outsiders)

30th century[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cybermen from the 30th century who travelled back to 1940 also employed Cybermats and harvested humans to make more of them. (PROSE: Illegal Alien)

54th century[[edit] | [edit source]]

A Cybermat in the 54th century. (COMIC: The Bidding War)

During the 5320s, the Cyber-Empire had a Cybermat delivered to Addison Delamar so they could harvest the Ninth Doctor's memories of the Last Great Time War. The Cybermat managed to partially convert Delamar before Tara Mishra used gold to destroy it. (COMIC: The Bidding War)

Third Cyberwar[[edit] | [edit source]]

During the early years of the Third Cyberwar, weapons-grade Cybermen sent hundreds of Cyber Legion Cybermats to attack Space Station Hamlyn. However, the Cybermats were all lured to defeat by the Second Doctor, using his recorder. (COMIC: The Scruffy Piper)

Undated events[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cybermats found by the Ice Warriors on Yama-10. (COMIC: Deathworld)

On the planet Yama-10, the Cyberman planted hundreds of Cybermats capable of squirting poison on a camp of Ice Warriors led by Commander Yinak, who ordered their destruction. Though the Cybermats were believed to have all been destroyed, the Ice Warriors soon came into conflict with the Cybermen themselves. (COMIC: Deathworld)

A Cybermat attended Bonjaxx's birthday party at Bonjaxx's Bar on Maruthea, which resulted in a bar fight. (COMIC: Party Animals)

The Tremas Master once forced the Graak to steal a disabled Cybermat. (GAME: Destiny of the Doctors)

Missy once goaded the Twelfth Doctor into following her through various time periods while she stole valuable items. The Doctor was too late to stop her each time. Finally catching up with her in the Stone Age, the Doctor revealed to her that he had discovered her true plan: to leave Cybermats behind where she stole each item. Missy expressed her desire to further reveal her plan to him. The Doctor instead refused to listen and boarded the TARDIS in search of some lunch. (PROSE: Dr. Twelfth)

Alternate timeline[[edit] | [edit source]]

A swarm of Cybermats attack the Eighth Doctor's TARDIS. (COMIC: Prologue: The Eighth Doctor)

In an alternate timeline where Rassilon and the Cybermen conquered all of time and space, the Eighth Doctor and Josie Day encountered Cybermats, along with some Cybermen, on a spaceship. In particular, a swarm of Cybermats covered the Doctor's TARDIS when the duo attempted to escape. (COMIC: Prologue: The Eighth Doctor) This event was erased from history following the Twelfth Doctor and Rassilon’s efforts to regenerate the universe through the Eye of Harmony. (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

A Cybermat as seen in LEGO Dimensions.
  • Wood lice inspired the creation and look of the Cybermats. In their first appearances in The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Wheel in Space, they were realised in the studio by a variety of techniques, including clockwork and radio-controlled models. In some shots they were pulled by wires or simply pushed into view. Shots of the Cybermats leaping onto their victims were achieved by pulling the Cybermat away with wires and playing the film backwards.
  • Cybermat effects in Revenge of the Cybermen used a combination of strings, puppetry and CSO. The Cybermats (or rather the single Cybermat which appeared) went through a radical re-design and resembled a cybernetic silverfish.
  • The Doctor Who Role Playing Game: The Cybermen identifies the Cybermats seen in The Moonbase, The Wheel in Space and Revenge of the Cybermen as Model I, II and III respectively
  • Cybermats identical to Bitey appear as enemies in the video game Doctor Who: Legacy. They feature in both closed and open mouth variants, with the latter being enlarged for an additional giant variant.
  • The Cybermats appear as minor villains in LEGO Dimensions, sporting a design that has not yet been used in any other Doctor Who-related material.
  • They were supposed to appear in The Invasion and Silver Nemesis, but were dropped.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]