# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/61 "2017-02-20T21:16:12Z")
[Well, there’s the phronima parasite…](https://www.google.com/search?q=phronima&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWpKuHzJ_SAhVDOpoKHZorCP8Q_AUICSgB&biw=1024&bih=615&dpr=1.25) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/62 "2017-02-20T22:37:26Z")
Zombie aliens, huh? Ok, well this doesn’t seem to have been mentioned yet so I’ll throw it out there. The little mouth that shoots out is based on the moray eel’s [pharyngeal jaws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharyngeal_jaw). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/63 "2017-02-20T23:09:50Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > [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. I did an internship in the mid-90s with a property assessor who had an HR Giger screensaver on his office computers. Slightly disturbing to be wrapped up in doing paperwork for a half hour or so and turn around to THAT… ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/64 "2017-02-21T14:42:05Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Zombie aliens, huh? Ok, well this doesn’t seem to have been mentioned yet so I’ll throw it out there. The little mouth that shoots out is based on the moray eel’s [pharyngeal jaws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharyngeal_jaw). I came in to mention this if it hadn’t been already mentioned. When I heard of, and saw videos of pharyngeal jaws of the eel, I happily freaked out. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/65 "2017-02-21T21:09:32Z")
When an eel reaches out and bites you on the snout, that a moray. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/66 "2017-02-22T01:17:20Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I thought it was the lack of firearms aboard the Nostromo that prevented them from shooting the damn thing? I read **Mad** ’s parody of **Alien**. One character says the alien’s blood is made of acid. Another says, “Great. Maybe we can kill it with a Rolaid.” ---
**Author:** ![soumynona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@soumynona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soumynona)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/67 "2017-02-22T05:18:07Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Zombie aliens, huh? Ok, well this doesn’t seem to have been mentioned yet so I’ll throw it out there. The little mouth that shoots out is based on the moray eel’s [pharyngeal jaws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharyngeal_jaw). I hate to ruin your childhood, but it’s actually based on a [human penis](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/85/bc/4d/85bc4dc2e88fd680909bc442f95dede5.jpg). Everything designed by H.R. Giger is basically inspired by sex, death and the occult. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/68 "2017-02-22T05:30:27Z")
> [@soumynona](#): > > I hate to ruin your childhood, but it’s actually based on a [human penis](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/85/bc/4d/85bc4dc2e88fd680909bc442f95dede5.jpg). Everything designed by H.R. Giger is basically inspired by sex, death and the occult. Well no shit, that was never in question. That whole franchise is about rape. But they obviously couldn’t get away with an actual penis without pissing off the ratings people, now could they? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/69 "2017-02-22T19:47:39Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Well no shit, that was never in question. That whole franchise is about rape. But they obviously couldn’t get away with an actual penis without pissing off the ratings people, now could they? Except they did, sort of. Here’s the original Alien suit, Mr. Happy head and all. _[Strange Shapes: Image](https://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/aliendesign4.jpg)_ And I agree with your “No shit, Sherlock” response. Many (most?) of the Giger images that inspired the Alien design were published long before the film production was even underway. When Giger was commissioned to apply his vision to the Alien, his original concept included “a tongue with teeth on it.” ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/70 "2017-02-22T20:34:15Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > _[Strange Shapes: Image](https://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/aliendesign4.jpg)_ That is still the most badass alien (no pun intended) design ever. It is positively horrifying and menacing. I’ve seen a lot of horror movies since the original Alien and none of them stand up to this design. MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/71 "2017-02-23T00:03:50Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > That is still the most badass alien (no pun intended) design ever. It is positively horrifying and menacing. I’ve seen a lot of horror movies since the original Alien and none of them stand up to this design. > > MeanJoe Agreed. Least of all the various “improvements” that were made in the sequels. ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/72 "2017-02-23T20:49:42Z")
Just watched this again last night and one of the raindrops noticed something in the background when Kane first encounters the room full of eggs. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YU2_vhkks5F-qFKRqpIvCaYjkEwGpZJJatPlnHZvOr0DMfQc7ynpBz5OKLi-PcdG-R5xDolNFrIYb7931bGru6dQ3tfERpWcEi8fMiYK4VDGC-rYrb33DZL9oES4Nm-p0ZTe6GXlqw=w394-h200-p-k "Alien") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOuqFPsFf_ZQTgLQXvajle43QU4PhXmyrFREdxLkyHZwTao8KTWd3UZgxqLRn-l0A?key=ZmMwTDlRVGFjeHBkUnJkV1M0b1RIN09faVJiZHVn) Behind him is a large shadowy lump. It is bigger than the eggs around it. Could this be facehugger for a queen? Though other screen grabs from when he is walking on that elevated area doesn’t seem to show this large lump. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-what-animal-is-the-creature-based-on/483519/73 "2017-02-24T03:37:51Z")
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