Xenomorph (Alien)

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The xenomorph, or alien as they are commonly known, is a member of the fictional extraterrestrial species that is the primary antagonist of the Alien film series and its subsidiary literature and video games. The name is derived from the Greek word for "alien form", and was coined by the character Lt. Gorman in the film Aliens as a euphemism to indicate any non-terrestrial life-form. Because the films did not give a specific name, this was adopted by fans as a taxonomic classification for the Alien series' titular monsters. The Alien Quadrilogy DVD identifies the scientific name of the creatures as Internecivus raptus (literally "murderous thief"). The comic books identify it as Linguafoeda acheronsis ("foul-tongued [being] of Acheron"). [1] [2]

A xenomorph begins life inside an egg as a small parasitoid, called a "Facehugger". After the egg hatches, the parasitoid attaches itself to a nearby host and implants an embryo. The embryo is incubated in the host for a short period of time, until it breaks out of the host's body and quickly grows into a large adult. An adult is usually depicted as slightly humanoid, standing approximately eight feet tall, and has a long, whip-like tail, a semitransparent carapace enclosing its head, and several rows of silvery teeth.

The xenomorph design is credited to Swiss surrealist and artist H. R. Giger, originating in a lithograph called Necronom IV and refined for the series' first film, Alien. In that film, the xenomorph was played by an actor in costume (the seven-foot-tall Bolaji Badejo) and make-up, a technique used in later films of the series. The queen was depicted in Aliens using animatronic puppets and in Alien vs. Predator using computer-generated imagery. The species' design and life cycle have been extensively added to and altered throughout each film, so that its complete biology is not always consistent.

Contents 1 Characteristics 1.1 Behavioural and defensive attributes 2 Queen 2.1 Birth 2.2 Hive relationships 2.3 Design 3 Variations 3.1 Upper torso 3.2 Lower torso 3.3 Human-Alien/Newborn 4 Facehugger 4.1 Superfacehugger 5 Predalien 6 King Alien 7 Alien classifications 7.1 Video game aliens 8 Theories 8.1 DNA assimilation 8.2 Communication 8.3 Origins of the species 8.4 Production of queens 9 Films 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 13 External links

[edit] Characteristics

Socially, in ideal situations, xenomorphs are hive-minded animals with a defined caste system which is ruled by a queen. They reproduce as parasitoids and grow to full size very rapidly.^[1] The alien queen lays eggs that eventually release a single parasitic facehugger when a host comes near. Facehuggers attack a host and slide a tubular proboscis down the victim's throat, implanting an embryo within their chest, which later develops into what is called a "chestburster". The organism also somehow feeds off the victim's oxygen intake through this organ, presumably through oxygen in the host's bloodstream. Additionally, facehuggers injects a powerful general anesthetic into the victim, which renders it comatose. A facehugger possesses several natural defenses to prevent its removal from the host: over time facehuggers' outer epidermis becomes solidified and hardened by a chitinous layer of silicon, acid blood may burn attackers attempting to cut or scrape the facehugger from the host, and strangulation and laceration of the internal organs of the host will be risked if attackers attempt to pry or peel the facehugger off. In Aliens, a number of facehuggers are observed in stasis and accompanying medical notes indicate that the human hosts died during removal. After implantation, facehuggers die and the embryo's host wakes up afterwards showing no considerable outward negative symptoms for several hours thereafter, the most common symptoms being a sore throat, slight nausea, and increased congestion. In later stages where the incubation period is extended in preparation of a queen birth, symptoms will include a shortness of breath, exhaustion, and hemorrhaging (detectable through biological scanners and present in nosebleeds or other seemingly random bleeding incidents), as well as chest pains inflicted either in lack of chest space due to the chestburster's presence, or even premature attempts to escape the host.

This embryo may take on some of the host's DNA or traits, such as bipedalism, quadrupedalism (shown in Alien³ with the alien born from a dog instead of a human), or also having mandibles (shown in Alien Vs. Predator with the predalien) and other body structure changes, possibly owing to the need to adapt using indigenous wildlife as a reference for what features to retain for use in that particular environment. Over the course of 1-24 hours (Undeterminable in some cases, and sometimes up to a week, in the case of some queens) the embryo develops into a chestburster, at which point it emerges, violently ripping open the chest of the host. Without medical assistance and surgical removal, the victim will die as a result of the emergence. Shortly after emergence, the creature grows to adult size and will feed on either the host or other prey to aid in its resource intake. Xenomorphs are roughly humanoid with a skeletal or insectoid appearance, like an exoskeleton. As xenomorphs grow into adulthood they generally have less and less of an endoskeletal structure as most or all of their skin is shed within the first day after leaving their host. The DVD collection Alien: Quadrilogy shows a skeletal structure in x-ray images of a stage in its life cycle in each animated menu selection. Also, as noticed in Predator 2 it shows what appears to be a xenomorph skull, though it may be a bleached exoskeleton. This skull also appears on the Alien Vs Predator DVD.

In addition to reproduction through an alien queen, a single alien drone can reproduce on its own. In the book "Nightmare Asylum," General Spears comments that a drone alien can develop into a queen through the means of a 'Hormone storm'. The 'Hormone storm' consists of the chemicals found in the royal jelly that is fed to the growing queen: it lies dormant in a xenomorph's DNA until needed.^[2]

Typical adults are about eight feet in height (2.4 meters)^[3] and have a hard outer shell which is usually muted shades of gray, dark green, brown and black. They have an elongated, cylindrical head but lack visible eyes. The creature's lack of visible eyes serves to remove a massive weak point from a nigh invulnerable beast. Symbolically, a lack of eyes helps to emphasize the alien quality in the creature. In the original Alien film the top of the creature's head was semi-transparent, with empty eye sockets of human appearance visible within - this element was dropped in later movies. But in Alien 3 the camera shows the way the alien sees, implying that it must have eyesight. Due to the absence of clearly visible eyes, it is possible that the creature uses echolocation to "see" its environment, much like bats. It may be for this reason that xenomorphs hiss almost constantly. And as depicted in the Aliens vs. Predator games, the aliens can detect their prey using pheromones, much like a colorful aura around the body. All xenomorphs also have six-fingered hands with two thumbs each: one on each side of each hand.

[edit] Behavioural and defensive attributes

The adult Xenomorph is essentially a living weapon, noted for its ferocity and deadliness in any condition (or movie plot). It has strong, sharp claws and a blade-tipped tail. The Xenomorph's mouth contains double mandibles; that is, it has one mouth inside another mouth. The first mandible, which is similar to a human's, lowers and the second mandible (which could be called its tongue) extends outwards from inside the first. It is rigid enough to penetrate bone or body armor with the secondary jaws at its tip. It is employed almost exclusively as a weapon to incapacitate prey, usually through head trauma. It can be seen when the Xenomorph opens its mouth slowly. The Xenomorph can kill its victim by using its claws or its tongue, which could rapidly bite and kill its victim easily; sometimes it can use its tail to stab the prey, as seen in the 2004 movie Alien vs. Predator and also in the 1986 movie Aliens, when the alien queen used its tail to impale the android, Bishop.

Xenomorphs, once fully matured, possess great physical strength and agility. They appear to possess an intelligence roughly similar to that of a typical predatory mammal. Despite their ferocity and savagery, like any good predator, they are masters of stealth. A favored method of acquiring prey is to simply wait in a dormant state until an appropriate victim strays near and then drop down silently from behind. The prey is generally blind to the fact that a Xenomorph is present, due to its propensity to camouflage itself within its nest walls or the surrounding artificial environment given its biomechanical appearance. Xenomorph blood is an extremely potent acid similar to hydrochloric acid (although their acid blood is significantly more effective against metal) and is capable of dissolving on contact almost any substance with alarming speed- in the movies (notably the first one) it is referred to as "Molecular Acid" or similar to it. However, as seen in the movie Alien vs Predator, the exoskeletons of the creatures themselves are impervious to their acidic blood. The creature also has the ability to spit this acid, though this seems to be a rare behavior seen only in Alien³ and Alien: Resurrection as well as various comic books and video games — it seems this is used to incapacitate prey rather than kill (although in one viewed case, it led to one victim's gruesome death). Xenomorphs can produce a thick, strong resin, previously used to build their hives and cocoon victims. Much like termites, they mix their viscous saliva with solids, like dead victims or dead/cannibalized xenomorphs. These materials are then broken down by spitting acid on them and molding into shape and place (demonstrated in the comic book Aliens: Harvest), though it shows amazing heat and moisture-retaining qualities, as seen in the hot, moist atmosphere of the hive in Aliens.

Adult Xenomorphs are quick and agile, and can run along ceilings and walls, a skill they exhibit freely whether they are evading others, attacking, or hunting prey. They can survive in extreme temperatures, are well-adapted to swimming, and can survive in vacuum for unknown lengths of time. Their movement tends to be silent, and they do not radiate heat as their exoskeletal temperature matches the ambient temperature. They salivate profusely. They are extremely aggressive and persistent, while being totally devoid of fear. And although they do not demonstrate human-level intelligence as a species (either through writing, tool use, or the development of any sort of technology), their queen appears to possess considerable acumen in its social behavior and manipulation of human technology.^[4] Through cloning in the events surrounding Alien: Resurrection (noted in the novelization), it appears that the alien's hive mind includes a collective memory that passes along even at a genetic level, and through the tests conducted on Ellen Ripley, it is revealed that the memory passed from Ripley onto the new generation of Xenomorphs allows them to read and understand different languages. Xenomorphs are considered 'fast-learning', quickly understanding cause and effect, demonstrated in Alien: Resurrection, as a scientist 'punishes' a group of Xenomorphs by exposing them to jets of liquid nitrogen--a device that another Xenomorph used against an armed guard.

In the rare event that a Xenomorph should find itself under attack or is otherwise vulnerable, it once again displays incredible creativity and cleverness--as stated earlier, they are able to move quite well and quickly in ventilation systems, despite their size, and will use such conduits for ambush, escape, or even as just an easy way between point A and B. Should a Xenomorph become separated from its hive, it will often try to re-establish contact as soon as it can. As a result, installations that study or experiment on these creatures have developed strategies that force escaped Xenomorphs upwards rather than downwards, locking down ventilation systems at the same time, simultaneously containing the creature in areas accessible to security teams and preventing it from reaching areas where vital systems, such as electrical generators, are present, which xenomorphs will often recognize as a source of light output. Even these measures have been known to fail, however--the alien organism will go so far as to sacrifice another in an effort to escape, using the dead creature's acidic blood to effectively melt a hole for escape.

Xenomorphs, in all stages of their life cycles, have shown vulnerabilities to heat, such as fire and flame-throwers, but cold temperatures are an inadequate precautionary measure--except at the extremes, such as liquid nitrogen. Since they can adapt to a vacuum and endure cold climates, it is unlikely they would be driven off by chilly conditions, but blasts of hot steam or cold air can be effective, especially when paired together. It is postulated that applying both hot and cold temperatures in rapid succession would achieve a very lethal, "cracking" effect on a Xenomorph's exoskeleton, as shown when the exoskeleton of the xenomorph from Alien³ exploded after both falling into a vat of liquid lead and being sprayed with water, similar to rapidly heating and cooling glass.^[5]

[edit] Queen

Xenomorphs have an insect-like life cycle, fairly similar to that of the digger wasp. The queen regulates the whole hive and it is possible that the hive cannot survive without her.

Queen xenomorphs are significantly larger than the drones, approximately 15 feet (4.5 m) tall.^[6] Their body structure differs also, having twin sets of arms and being built more similarly to a theropod dinosaur than a humanoid. Queens have a much larger braincase than the average adults, protected by a large crest above their heads. Another well-known feature of the xenomorph queen is an immense ovipositor in its lower torso, which is responsible for creating facehugger eggs (similar to a queen termite). The queen is able to detach from the eggsac if necessary (as in the case of an emergency). Queens also have a higher ability to relate cause and effect to make observations and deductions, allowing them rudimentary understanding of technology in the same way as some primates, such as the Queen's use of the elevator in Aliens. At the end of Aliens, when the xenomorph drones cut off Ripley's escape route, she threatens to burn an egg. The Queen perceives this and beckons the drones to clear out of the way. The queen is also considered to be the strongest caste of Xenomorph, able to evenly fight Ripley in a Power Loader in the film Aliens, and due to its superiority in the Aliens versus Predator game series.

[edit] Birth

It is almost impossible to determine the entire origin of the queen. When the queen or her eggs are absent, there are numerous possibilities. The queen could generate from an imperial facehugger which is only available when the birth cycle for the facehugger eggs are almost complete, seen in the special edition of Alien³, which can implant a queen or a xenomorph into multiple hosts. Its biological description differs too: it would be more armoured, having hooked limbs to deter removal and be stronger than the normal Facehugger to achieve its goal at any cost.^[7] After impregnating the host, the Facehugger would eventually die after a small period of time. Incubation could last days as the maturing queen was a much more complex organism than her subjects and also as a way of spreading the hive to a new area (as the host carries the incubating queen away from the place of impregnation the queen would then be born farther away, thus ensuring new food and reproduction sources for the fledgling hive).^[8] There were other theories as to how the Queen was created, one being that some newborn Chestbursters were fed the Queen's royal jelly, provoking a cellular response that makes it metamorphose into a matriarch. Another method shown in numerous video games and novels is that if no queen is present, a normal drone xenomorph can shift hormones and become one. As well as in the video game "Aliens versus Predator: Extinction", a Praetorian Alien is able to cocoon itself and transform into a Queen. In the RoleMaster supplement Aliens: the Roleplaying Game, queens are said to be born only from a living host without a Facehugger that has been allowed to wander free.

[edit] Hive relationships

Most of the relationships of the xenomorph hive established and recognised are supposition. It is likely, though, that after a few weeks a new Queen would lead a contingent of drones away from the old hive and their first duty would be to spread to another area and begin construction anew. Early on all effort would be concentrated on finishing the hive so the Queen could begin laying eggs again. Rival creatures would be used to reinforce the hive and protect the Queen when she began breeding. It is known that the host of a queen embryo is able to be recognized as a VIP by Drone and Warrior xenomorphs and given deference.

[edit] Design

The design of the queen was created by Aliens director James Cameron in collaboration with special effects artist Stan Winston, based upon an initial painting Cameron had done at the start of the project.^[9] The Winston Studio created a test foam core queen before constructing the full hydraulic puppet which was used for most of the scenes involving the large alien. Two people were inside working the twin sets of arms and puppeteers off-screen worked her jaws and head. Although at the end of the film the queen was presented full-body fighting the power-loader, the audience never sees the legs of the queen, save those of the small-scale puppet that appears only briefly. In Aliens, Cameron used very selective camera-angles on the queen, using the "less is more" style of photography. Subsequently the movie won an Oscar for Visual Effects.^[10]

It was only during the climax of the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator that for the first time audiences could see the queen actually running and fighting because of the computer-generated imagery (CGI) techniques employed to create it. The queen's basic design was also altered to make her more "streamlined" in appearance. Other changes include the removal of the "high-heel" protrusions on her legs, altering the joints so she could run faster, and making her waist thinner because there was no need for puppeteers inside her chest. The new Queen was built from scratch. The legs were made proportionally larger to the body, giving the new queen a sturdier appearance.

[edit] Variations

The xenomorph has been portrayed in noticeably different ways throughout the films. Much of this was due to the continuing advancements made in the field of special effects, technology and techniques used to bring it to life.

[edit] Upper torso

In the original Alien film, and sequel Aliens, they are depicted as tall, slender creatures with a roughly human biomechanical design. Notably, the being in the first film is far taller than those in the second. However, in later films, like Alien: Resurrection and Alien vs. Predator, they are depicted as being shorter and bulkier organisms, as well as being more quadrupedal, portrayed by either the traditional men-in-suit technique for close-ups or full form using computer-generated imagery.

Originally, the xenomorphs’ tails was roughly the length of the rest of its body with a small, almost surgical stinger-like barb on the end. From Alien³ onwards, however, the tail has extended in length and featured a large, knife-like blade at the tip. In Alien: Resurrection and Alien vs. Predator, the tails had also supported a ridge of spikes right before the blade. This was introduced in Alien: Resurrection to help them swim convincingly, and was left intact in Alien vs. Predator.^[11] The tail itself is shown to be of incredible length during Alien vs Predator, easily measuring at least twice its body length, as depicted when the Grid Alien impales a Predator from a hole in the wall.

The original shooting script for Aliens featured a scene in which Lieutenant Gorman was "stung" by a xenomorph’s stinger. He was not killed, merely stunned, and the barb remained lodged in his shoulder, having torn loose from the xenomorph’s tail, much like a bee stinger. The novelisation also included this scene, though the movie itself does not.^[12] This attribute is used later on in various games.

In Aliens, xenomorphs are depicted as having ridges along their cranium, while in all other films they have smooth cowls covering their skull, the logistic reason being that the cowl-less xenomorphs in the sequel were easier to make and were more resistant to damage. In Alien: Resurrection and Alien vs. Predator, the head was shortened greatly to approximately half the original thirty-three inches. It was also made flat at the base, with little to no similarity to the original designs.^[13]

In Alien and Alien³, the xenomorph has six fingers, with the index and middle fingers conjoined into one digit, ring and pinkie fingers also conjoined, and thumbs on both sides. In Aliens, the xenomorphs are shown with three fingers. In Alien: Resurrection and Alien vs. Predator, the aliens have four fingers. No explanation is given in the films for the fluctuating number of digits.

[edit] Lower torso

In Alien and Aliens, the xenomorphs have legs like that of a human, with a single joint at the knee and feet roughly in the same configuration as a human. Also in Alien vs. Predator, the xenomorphs have this same humanoid leg, though it is sleeker and more skeletal in appearance, due to the use of computer visuals and hydraulic puppetry, rather than costumes. This is notable because the xenomorph resembles the species from which it bred. In Alien³, the xenomorph is born from a different animal, and therefore has a different body design, including legs more like the dog in which it was incubated (in the extended edition the host is an ox and the resulting xenomorph bears only slight similarities to its host) . However, there was a dramatic change in Alien: Resurrection wherein the xenomorphs which escaped from containment have avian legs with long bones in the foot and the toes used for walking. This is apparently a change taking advantage of the digital representation of the xenomorphs rather than costumes, done to make them seem more menacing and predatory.^[14] The different leg and foot can be clearly seen in a forward shot in which a xenomorph closes in on the surviving characters, who are trapped by a blocked door.^[15]

It is almost impossible to tell the sex of the xenomorph; however the xenomorph never appears to need reproductive organs, relying on eggs alone. In Alien: Director's Cut, the xenomorph has a second method of reproduction, whereby it could transform humans into eggs, as shown when Ripley discovers Brett and Dallas, cocooned in a viscous liquid.^[16]

In another omitted scene from the script for Alien³, these "eggs" were actually cocoons, inside of which a human was painfully transformed into a full-grown alien, which then emerges from the cocoon like a perversion of a butterfly. This non-canon tertiary version of reproduction bypasses queens and Facehuggers entirely. However, this scene was never filmed so the true nature of the egg/cocoons in Alien: Director's Cut remain unknown.

These offer an origin for the eggs that did not require a queen, which seems to have been superseded by the queen in Aliens. None of the other films—including deleted scenes—has continued with this method and it is mostly considered atypical for the xenomorph life-cycle. However it is still plausible that a warrior Alien can use this secondary method of reproduction in the absence of a Queen.

(In Alien³ another addition was made: that of a "super Facehugger" that could impregnate two hosts with, presumably, a Queen and regular embryo and was larger and darker compared to normal. This would explain why both Ripley and a dog were impregnated from one Facehugger. The super Facehugger was found by some of the inmates, who thought it a type of jellyfish. Still, the previous paragraph remains true of the superfacehugger as well.)

[edit] Human-Alien/Newborn

This Alien is a genetic cross between a human and an Alien. It is first seen in Alien: Resurrection and its appearance is more similar to a human rather than the xenomorphs. The Newborn is roughly eight feet tall. It has yellowish skin instead of dark blue or black. However, the size and description may not be the same as its final evolution, as, like the chestburster, it may go through serious physical changes as it matures. The inner mouth is replaced with a tongue and the human/alien also has eyes. When it is first born it kills the alien queen and another cocooned host (the latter is only seen in the Special edition.) It also believes that Ripley is its mother. It is killed by Ripley when it is sucked into space through a small hole that she created in the window of a bulkhead. In the Alien: Resurrection PlayStation game, it is referred to as the Newborn and has green blood.

[edit] Facehugger

A Facehugger is the second stage in the life-cycle of a xenomorph, (the first being an egg). The Facehugger is hatched from a large organic-looking egg and laid in groups by an Alien Queen. Once laid, the egg remains immobile until it senses a suitable host organism to support an alien embryo, at which point, the egg opens and the Facehugger erupts from it, launching itself at high speed towards the intended host. Its bony finger-like legs allow it to crawl rapidly, its long tail can launch it in great leaps. Their long, bony appendages give them an appearance somewhat comparable to Chelicerata arthropods such as arachnids and horseshoe crabs.

The Facehugger's only purpose is to make contact with the host's mouth for the implantation process, by gripping its long, bony finger-like legs around the victim's head and wrapping its tail around the host's neck, then slowly tightening the tail in order to make the host suffocate and making the host gasp for oxygen. At this point, the facehugger will insert a tube-like proboscis into the mouth and down the throat of the victim, feeding the host oxygen and inserting an embryo into the chest cavity. Attempts to remove Facehuggers generally prove fatal — the parasite will squeeze the host's neck with its tail. The Facehugger's acid blood deters cutting it off. Once the alien embryo is safely implanted, the Facehugger detaches and dies. Later, a larval Xenomorph (Chestburster) will erupt from the host's chest.

In the two Facehugger examinations, one performed by Ash and the other by Bishop, some chemical change has occurred at or about the time of the Facehuggers' expiration, or else the surgical tools should have been dissolved by the acidic blood. It may be that the actual xenomorph is simply the proboscis itself; neither examined Facehugger specimen retained any such appendage, nor was one in evidence when Hicks examined one on the end of his shotgun during the Marine incursion into the reactor.

In this case, either by the species having manipulated the Facehugger's genetics (just as sexual drives are genetically derived), or neurologically controlling the Facehugger, the Facehugger is compelled to attach itself to a host, at which point the xenomorph draws off whatever remaining chemical resources the Facehugger has. It then detaches from the Facehugger, which "wakes up" for the first time in its life and, depleted of resources, crawls away to die just as drone honeybees die after mating. Unless the xenomorph is securely implanted, the Facehugger can survive to seek another host.

[edit] Superfacehugger

The Superfacehugger, sometimes called the Queen Facehugger, or Praetorian Facehugger in AvP: Extinction is a different strain of Facehugger, with a black exoskeleton, a spiked tail and webbing between its crab-like legs. The Superfacehugger is seen only in the assembly cut of Alien³, and is often considered canon. The embryo it implants into the host will develop into a Queen alien rather than the normal drone; in addition, it can also impregnate at least one other organism with a regular drone embryo, presumably to protect the unborn queen.

[edit] Predalien

A Predalien is a Xenomorph born from a Yautja host (or in a rare case, as a result of genetic experimentation in Aliens versus Predator. A Predalien is born when a Facehugger attaches its self to a Predator (regardless of a protective mask) and the embryo incubates inside a Predator. When the Chestburster emerges, it has both Xenomorph and Predator features, such as the Xenomorph tongue and the Predator's mandibles. Predaliens are feared because they are much stronger than a typical Xenomorph born from a human. The Predalien appears as an infant in AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), the video game Aliens Versus Predator 2 (2001)(PC) as well as AVP2: Alien vs. Predator 2(2007) coming out soon

[edit] King Alien

There are speculations of a possible King caste of Xenomorph in the Alien series, considered to be the supreme caste in the Xenomorph hierarchy. The King is occasionally mentioned or shown in outside Alien source or fictional material, such as the King Alien in Kenner's toy series[3] and in the Aliens: Rogue comic where a mad scientist creates a King. In the comic, the king was an artificially created queen injected with male hormones. Superficially, it resembled a heavily built queen with tendrils around its mouth. Though created as a weapon to use against the queen, the king was unable to defeat her in combat and was killed. However, the King Alien is largely considered non-canon, and the Queen is generally regarded as the ultimate Xenomorph.

[edit] Alien classifications

• Queen
• Eggs
• Facehuggers
• Superfacehuggers (Gestates a Queen Alien)
• Chestbursters
• Drones
• Pred-aliens (An alien incubated inside a Predator)
• Runner
• Warrior

[edit] Video game aliens

• Praetorian
• Ravager
• Carrier
• Praetorian Egg
• Praetorian Facehugger
• Hive Node
• Drones
• Pred-aliens
• Cystic Drones
• Cystic Pred-aliens
• Cystic Runner

[edit] Theories

[edit] DNA assimilation

While the Chestburster was still in an embryonic stage, it was possible that it used the host's DNA to augment its own and acquire any useful traits that the host had garnered through natural selection. Fan-fiction holds that this is due to a variant of a Y-type DNA Polymerase which allows the developing embryo to selectively adopt genes from a host organism. This made sense from a biological evolutionary standpoint, since the host was adapted to its environment, taking on some of its characteristics would further adapt the newborn alien to its new environment. This would essentially make all adult xenomorphs hybrid creatures, and was alluded to in the first film, albeit indirectly and possibly unintentionally. When Ash hears Parker's report on the size of the full-grown individual, Ash refers to it as "Kane's son".^[17] Another explanation could be that since the eggs seem to be produced asexually, the embryo receives some of its chromosomes from its host to allow for genetic diversity.

Alien³ furthered the debate by having an alien embryo implanted into a dog. The xenomorphs of the first two films were all implanted in humans and could walk in a bipedal fashion; they also had foot-long tubes on their backs for balance and, moving quadripedally, the xenomorph in Alien³ apparently did not need these. The "dog-alien"—also known to fans as a "runner alien"—of Alien³, was visually very different from those in the first two films, theoretically because it took on some of the DNA of its canine host.^[18] It preferred to move in a dog-like manner, often running at high speed on all four legs. It was also born almost fully developed - much like the young of dogs. This new type was far more streamlined and aerodynamic in appearance. The Runner also appears in the video games Aliens versus Predator 2 and Aliens versus Predator: Extinction.

The xenomorphs of the fourth Alien film, Alien: Resurrection, were something of an exception, because they were far more human-like, to the point that the Alien queen gave live birth to a "human-alien hybrid": this was because these aliens were the result of cloning experiments by the military, and were not the "true" form of the species, having been spliced with substantial amounts of human DNA. This was not as a result of the normal implantation-DNA-assimilation process.

In various comics and the Aliens vs. Predator video game series, this was taken a step further when a xenomorph embryo was implanted into one of the Predators (Predator); the result was an Alien with Predator characteristics: a "pred-alien".^[19] This hybrid was bipedal, and had the basic body-outline of a Predator, having lost the elongated head shape. It sports inner jaws characteristic of other xenomorphs, and supported a set of mandibles reminiscent of those of the Predator. Its head also has the "dreadlocks" reminiscent of most Predators. This motif was also repeated at the end of the recent Alien vs. Predator film. Other comic books have shown further Alien crossovers with other species.

[edit] Communication

According to the computer game Aliens vs. Predator 2, xenomorphs used ultrasound for relatively long-distance communication.^[20] xenomorph hives were built with smooth, rounded edges instead of rough, sharp edges because sound propagates better in such an environment. The skulls of xenomorphs acted as sonic amplifiers for both boosting the transmission of messages and ensuring that incoming messages remain audible. This theory correlates with the queen's massive head, since administrative duties would require greater transmission and receiving strength than normal xenomorphs.^[21] Likewise, this correlates with the theory of telepathy amongst the xenomorphs; drones and workers need only basic telepathy organs to receive a queen's signals, while a queen needed a more powerful ability to broadcast. Likewise, in the Earth Hive trilogy of novels, particularly sensitive humans experienced strange dreams with the impression that the Queen Mother was calling to them as well; from across the galaxy.^[22] However, these theories contradicted the Labyrinth Aliens novel, which described a portion of the xenomorphs’ brain that contained telepathic capabilities. Also in Labyrinth, it was theorized that xenomorphs that stayed further from a queen had a diminished array of telepathic lobes. These lobes were used to communicate specifically with the queen as well as others.

[edit] Origins of the species

The origins of the xenomorphs had never been fully explained in the films, but the expanded and non-canonical Alien literature had stated that the xenomorphs were bio-weapons genetically engineered by an ancient race nicknamed the "Space Jockeys". Little was known of this race except that they were purported to have had created the xenomorphs to fight an ancient war. Alien eggs would be used as "bombs" on an enemy planet and then the xenomorphs would proceed to kill the entire population as they spawned. The xenomorphs were then genetically designed to die off, but eventually mutated and thrived even after killing their prey. It is possible that a single member of the creator race escaped in a freighter or warship full of xenomorph eggs, but was himself infected with a xenomorph and killed, his body being discovered as the large, fossilized humanoid figure seen by the crew of the Nostromo in the first film.^[23] The expanded universe indicates that more than just one of the Space Jockey race remains alive, though their civilization is in ruins.^[24]

An unknown amount of time later, the race was discovered by the Predators, a race of trophy hunters. The Predators then exploited the xenomorphs, considering them the ultimate prey.

It could also be that the Predators brought the Aliens to that planet, as we do not know if the chestburster that came out of the Predator's chest was a queen. The Aliens might overpower the Predators and the ship might crash on that planet, making the "space jockeys" the Predators themselves

[edit] Production of queens

Another theory about the production of queens is that when the queen suspects her life is at risk she lays an egg containing a super-facehugger, as a measure to continue the rule of the hive of normal xenomorphs. This has been derived from the fact that in the movie Alien³ the queen was shown to have laid a super-facehugger egg that later impregnates Ripley and a dog (shown as an ox in the assembly cut). And in the game Aliens vs Predator: Extinction, the queen comes from a Praetorian that has cocooned itself and emerges as a queen. (the Praetorian come from a Praetorian or "super" facehugger and no matter what host it impregnates, its always a Praetorian).

[edit] Films

1. Alien (1979) - Directed by Ridley Scott
2. Aliens (1986) - Directed by James Cameron
3. Alien³ (1992) - Directed by David Fincher
4. Alien: Resurrection (1997) - Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
5. Alien vs. Predator (2004) - Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
6. Alien vs. Predator: Survival of the Fittest (2007) - Directed by Brothers Strause

[edit] See also

• List of variations of the Xenomorph not given in the films
• Aliens (comic)
• Space Jockey
• Predators—The alien race from the film Predator
• Genestealer and Tyranid from the Warhammer 40,000 game
• Zerg species from the PC-game StarCraft
• Colonist species from The X-Files
• Heinrich, the final boss of Conker's Bad Fur Day and its remake, Conker: Live and Reloaded
• Human bot fly, a real-life insect with a similar method of reproduction
• Destoroyah, an opponent of Godzilla baring many similarities to the Xenomorph.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Alien - Released on May 25, 1979 - On-line script. Retrieved 02 March 2007.
• Aliens - Released on June 18, 1986 - On-line script. Retrieved 02 March 2007.
• Alien³ - Released on May 22, 1992 - On-line script. Retrieved 02 March 2007.
• Alien: Resurrection - Released on November 26, 1997 - On-line script. Retrieved 02 March 2007.
• Goldman, Willie. Sideshow Collectibles, Inc.. HAIL to THE QUEEN. Retrieved on February 15, 2006.
• Nathan. PlanetAVP.com. Alien universe. Retrieved on February 15, 2006.
• Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com. Awards for Aliens. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.
• Unknown author (Last updated 2002). Alien Collectors Homeworld. Xenomorph.org. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
• Unknown author. Predalien. Predalien information. Retrieved on February 18, 2006.
• Aliens versus Predator (computer game).
• Aliens versus Predator 2 (computer game).
• Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual, HarperCollins 1996, ISBN 0-06-105343-0.
• Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure (computer game) [4]

[edit] External links

• H.R. Giger online - A website about the creation of the xenomorphs' body.
• Serena Dawn Spaceport - An Alien RPG
• The AvP Online Encyclopedia - © Damon Dellamarggio
• The Alien Universe Timeline and Encyclopedia - © Scott Middlebrook
• Visions Of Terror - Aliens Special Feature - © Bj's Web Design Services
• Knightmare6.com, Aliens FAQ

v • d • e Alien, Predator and Alien vs. Predator
Alien films	Alien • Aliens • Alien³ • Alien: Resurrection
Predator films	Predator • Predator 2
AvP films	AVP: Alien vs. Predator • AVP: Alien vs. Predator 2
Film characters	Bishop • Hicks • Hudson • Newt • Ripley • Ripley clone • List of characters in the Alien series
Comics	Aliens • Aliens versus Predator • Aliens versus Predator versus The Terminator • Aliens vs. Predator/Witchblade/Darkness • Batman/Aliens • Batman versus Predator • Green Lantern versus Aliens • JLA vs. Predator • Judge Dredd vs. Aliens • Predator • Predator vs. Judge Dredd • Predator vs. Magnus, Robot Fighter • Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator • Superman/Aliens • Superman vs. Predator • Tarzan vs. Predator • WildC.A.T.s/Aliens
Novels	Aliens (Earth Hive) • Aliens vs. Predator • Predator
Alien games	Alien (1982) • Alien (1984) • Aliens: The Computer Game (Activision) • Aliens: The Computer Game (Software Studios) • Aliens (MSX) • Aliens (arcade) • Alien³ • Alien³ (SNES) • Alien³ (Game Boy) • Alien³: The Gun • Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure • Alien Trilogy • Aliens Online • Alien: Resurrection • Aliens: Thanatos Encounter • Aliens: Colonial Marines (cancelled) • Aliens: Unleashed • Aliens: Extermination
Predator games	Predator • Predator: Soon The Hunt Will Begin • Predator 2 • Predator 2 (Perfect 10) • Predator (mobile) • Predator: Concrete Jungle
Alien vs. Predator games	Alien vs Predator (SNES) • Alien vs Predator: The Last of His Clan • Alien vs. Predator (arcade) • Alien vs Predator (Jaguar) • Alien vs Predator (Lynx) (cancelled) • Aliens versus Predator / Gold Edition • Aliens versus Predator 2 / Gold Edition • Aliens versus Predator 2: Primal Hunt • Aliens versus Predator: Extinction • Alien vs. Predator 2D • Alien vs. Predator (mobile) • Alien vs. Predator 3D
Alien & Predator Universe	Derelict • Fiorina "Fury" 161 • LV-426 • M41A pulse rifle • M56 Smart Gun • M577 A.P.C. • Non-canon castes from the Alien films • Nostromo • Predator • Predator language • Space Jockey • Sulaco • United States Colonial Marines • USM Auriga • Val Verde • Weapons of the Colonial Marines • Weyland-Yutani • Xenomorph • Xenomorph-Yautja War
Miscellaneous	Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual • Alien Loves Predator • The Alien Legacy • Alien Quadrilogy • Alien War • Batman: Dead End • Cultural references to Alien

v • d • e Iconic Horror Characters in Cinema
Classic:	Creature from the Black Lagoon | Count Dracula | The Fly | Frankenstein's monster | The Invisible Man | The Mummy | Count Orlok | The Phantom | The Wolf Man
Modern:	The Alien | Norman Bates | Chucky | Ghostface | Jigsaw |The Fisherman| Freddy Krueger | Leatherface | Hannibal Lecter | The Living Dead | Regan MacNeil | Michael Myers | Pinhead | Kayako Saeki | Damien Thorn | Jason Voorhees | Samara Morgan/Sadako Yamamura