# Aliens that can shape-shift into human form

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 11, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655 "2019-10-11T21:55:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/41 "2019-10-13T18:46:00Z")

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The “Martians” from Larry Niven’s \*The Meddler \*- not their real name, just what the protagonist calls them. They are basically just a lump of alien flesh in their rest state but can mold themselves into other forms as convenient, including a human-looking one. Skill seems to be involved; the more recent arrival looks oddly rounded and unfinished, while the longstanding resident of Earth looks normal except for needing a wig (apparently hairs are too fine to fake).

They are self-described as genetically engineered, so there’s no telling how much of their ability is natural.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/42 "2019-10-13T18:50:55Z")

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Never been clear about something, was the shape shifting cat in the Star Trek episode with Gary Seven an alien, or just a regular earth cat that could shape shift?

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/43 "2019-10-13T19:52:46Z")

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Isis came to Earth with Gary Seven, so I’m saying alien.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/44 "2019-10-13T19:55:11Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> Isis came to Earth with Gary Seven, so I’m saying alien.

I was under the impression Gary Seven was a human from the future. Minimal browsing tells me aliens sent him back in time, but no real details about the cat (Isis).

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**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-that-can-shape-shift-into-human-form/841655/45 "2019-10-15T03:02:26Z")

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The Andromedans, in _Blake’s 7_.

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