# ALIEN: What Animal is the Creature Based On? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 29, 2009, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519 "2009-01-29T07:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/1 "2009-01-29T07:30:06Z")
OK, the Alien is a complex animal. The stage when its a parasite upon its host (when its wrapped around the guy;s face)-what is it based on? It looks like a spider or scorpion of some kind. Also, did they ever explain how the thing rows after leaving the host? I don’t recall it eating anybody, but it seemsto grow by several hundred times, after bursting out of the guy! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/2 "2009-01-29T07:41:54Z")
It’s appearance is based in H.R. Giger’s painting \*Necronom IV \*, due to it’s surreal sexual overtones. The aliens do seem to eat. They are shown eating in Alien 3, and AvP: Requiem. The chestburster moves by two tiny arms halfway down its body, you can see them when one bursts out of a colonist in Aliens. The facehugger’s design is based on a pair of fused hands. Originally it was meant to look like an octopus but Giger replaced the tentacles with finger-like extremities. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/3 "2009-01-29T07:57:06Z")
I can’t recall if they ever call them this in the movies, but the species are known as Xenomorphs. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/4 "2009-01-29T08:01:52Z")
In the first Alien film it grows by feeding on the stored blood plasma. It later appears they can take nutrition from the air, making gas into solid. The animals’ shape is what is stated above, a design made up for its surreal and sexual overtones. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/5 "2009-01-29T10:18:56Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Also, did they ever explain how the thing rows after leaving the host? I don’t recall it eating anybody, but it seemsto grow by several hundred times, after bursting out of the guy! I always figured it inflated, then hardened its carapace, kind of like a moulting insect. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/6 "2009-01-29T10:43:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I always figured it inflated, then hardened its carapace, kind of like a moulting insect. They certainly moult, since at least once Ripley found a discarded “skin” the Xeno left behind in an air duct - in Alien 3 IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/7 "2009-01-29T12:18:34Z")
Equus noctis, the Nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/8 "2009-01-29T16:50:45Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I can’t recall if they ever call them this in the movies, but the species are known as Xenomorphs. The Colonial Marines did refer to the creatures as Xenomorphs in Aliens. ---
**Author:** ![Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gam_Zeh_Yaavor)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/9 "2009-01-29T17:25:36Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > The Colonial Marines did refer to the creatures as Xenomorphs in Aliens. My interpretation of this was that _xenomorph_ (“other/strange form”) is the blanket term used by the Colonial Marines to refer to any sort of hostile or bothersome extraterrestrial organism. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/10 "2009-01-29T17:29:28Z")
Note that Alien is a Horror film, not an SF film. Thus the Monster has supernatural powers, not science based powers. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/11 "2009-01-29T17:43:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **ralph124c** > Also, did they ever explain how the thing rows after leaving the host? I don’t recall it eating anybody, but it seemsto grow by several hundred times, after bursting out of the guy! In Alan Dean Foster’s novelization, the critter breaks into the ship’s food storage locker, and guzzles the crew’s food supplies. Then, fully grown, it starts killing the humans. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/12 "2009-01-29T18:13:02Z")
> [@Tijuana\_Golds](#): > > It’s appearance is based in H.R. Giger’s painting \*Necronom IV \*, due to it’s surreal sexual overtones. [Necronom IV](http://www.myfreewallpapers.net/artistic/wallpapers/giger-necronom-iv.jpg) Cool! I think I’ll replace my baby bunny background wallpaper with this for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/13 "2009-01-29T18:56:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Note that Alien is a Horror film, not an SF film. Thus the Monster has supernatural powers, not science based powers. Um, that’s kind of a silly distinction. The powers are not supernatural, they are just mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/14 "2009-01-29T19:13:14Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Um, that’s kind of a silly distinction. The powers are not supernatural, they are just mysterious. The acidic blood, which is an acid of a type that is impossible given the laws of chemistry and physics. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/15 "2009-01-29T19:19:53Z")
**Saw** is a horror movie. What’s the supernatural aspect of that? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/16 "2009-01-29T19:32:14Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The acidic blood, which is an acid of a type that is impossible given the laws of chemistry and physics. Ahh I guess you have a point there. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/17 "2009-01-29T19:36:43Z")
> [@Gam\_Zeh\_Yaavor](#): > > My interpretation of this was that _xenomorph_ (“other/strange form”) is the blanket term used by the Colonial Marines to refer to any sort of hostile or bothersome extraterrestrial organism. Yeah, I think you’re right. They descibe it as a xenomorph but it’s never refered to as THE Xenomorph. They’ve been on bug hunts before, per Private Hudson’s comments, so they’ve probably encountered other “other forms” before. > [@DrDeth](#): > > The acidic blood, which is an acid of a type that is impossible given the laws of chemistry and physics. And isn’t stomach acid fairly strong? I know it’s a bit of a leap from stomach acid to acid in the veins that melts through everything on contact, but again, this is fiction. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/18 "2009-01-29T19:53:25Z")
No whole animal, only parts: it’s based on a penis and a vagina, with the former bursting out of the latter. I know it’s easy to overanalyse films for sexual sybolism, but this one’s pretty undeniable. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/19 "2009-01-29T20:01:49Z")
I assume xenomorphs can grow somewhat like the way mushrooms grow. They’re “born” with bodies made of some exotic chitin, with most of the cells already present. No cell division required. It’s more of a “just add water and let the shell balloon up and harden” kind of growth. A mushroom “fruit” can expand many times in size overnight that way. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/20 "2009-01-29T20:20:43Z")
It’s pretty clearly based on a human form. I think one of the ideas batted around when they were making the first **Alien** film was that it acquired a lot of its looks from its host (which would make me want to see what developed from that chaire-bound Navigator with the burst chest they found on the first alien ship in the original film). But I don’t know if that idea survived even in that film. They certainly ignored it in the sequels. As for what creature it resembles in its habits, there are several wasps, such as the Tarantula Hawk, which immobilize their prey by stinging it, then lay eggs on the still-living body, where it acts as food for the young. Nature at its grossest. Stephen Jay Gould wrote a column on this, explicitly comparing it to the creature in **Alien**. > **[Pepsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsis_wasp)** > > See text > > Pepsis (from Ancient Greek πέψι lit. pepsis meaning 'digestion, cooking') is a genus of spider wasps belonging to the family Pompilidae. Species within this genus are also called tarantula hawks, as they usually hunt tarantulas, similarly to many species in the genus Hemipepsis. These wasps are restricted to the Americas, with the related genus Hemipepsis occurring in both Old and New Worlds. > Species within this genus include: The idea, I strongly suspect, comes from Jerome Bixby’s 1950s film **It! The Terror from Beyond Space** with adds from **Planet of Vampires** and the laying-eggs-in-the-spaceman stolen from **Night of the Blood Beast**. The idea of the Alien Aboard the Starship, as well as the idea of Alien Planting its Eggs in the Spaceman were both first used, as far as I can tell, by A.E. VanVogt in his short stories “Black Destroyer” and “Discord in Scarlet”, which eventually both got bound teogether in his “fix-up” novel **The Voyage of the Space Beagle**. A lot of folks claim that Alien derives directly from van Vogt, but I don’t see it – the plots are completely diferent, while Alien resembles It! an awful lot. Bixy probably knew about van Vot’s stories, and lifted the general idea, but definitely remade it, if so. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519.md?page=2)