SOURCE: Tarzan at the Earth's Core (Blue Book, September 1929)

DESCRIPTION: "Now for the first time Tarzan was able to obtain a good view of the snake-men and their equally hideous mounts. The conformation of the Horibs was almost identical to man insofar as the torso and extremities were concerned. Their three-toed feet and five-toed hands were those of reptiles. The head and face resembled a snake, but pointed ears and two short horns gave a grotesque appearance that was at the same time hideous. The arms "were better proportioned than the legs, which were quite shapeless. The entire body was covered with scales, although those upon the hands, feet and face were so minute as to give the impression of bare skin, a resemblance which was further emphasized by the fact that these portions of the body were a much lighter color, approximating the shiny dead whiteness of a snake's belly. They wore a single apronlike garment fashioned from a piece of very heavy hide, apparently that of some gigantic reptile. This garment was really a piece of armor, its sole purpose being, as Tarzan later learned, to cover the soft, white bellies of the Horibs. Upon the breast of each garment was a strange device--an eight-pronged cross with a circle in the center. Around his waist each Horib wore a leather belt, which supported a scabbard in which was inserted a bone knife. About each wrist and above each elbow was a band or bracelet. These completed their apparel and ornaments. In addition to his knife each Horib carried a long lance shod with bone. They sat on their grotesque mounts with their toes locked behind the elbows of the Gorobors, anomodont reptiles of the Triassic, known to paleontologists as Pareiasuri. Many of these creatures measured ten feet in length, though they stood low upon squat and powerful legs." (Tarzan at the Earth's Core by Egdar Rice Burroughs)

NOTES: The Horibs are an evil race of lizard men who live in underground dens in the Phelian swamp of Pellucidar. They ride on lizards called Gorobors and hunt Gyors with lances. They range in size from four to nine feet tall. They eat the flesh of men, though they also eat eggs, the flesh of dinosuars and fish.

HISTORY: The Horibs are pretty standard Burroughsian baddies, dangerous but not really that smart. How many other snakemen has this one inspired? Including this Tarzan toy.