User:Freighttrain/Comprehensive Xenomorph Classification System

(Updated as of 17/04/2020)

Contact e-mail : freighttrain@email.com

'Alien is a live-action film, print media and video game franchise, featuring hyperaggressive endoparasitoid extraterrestrial organisms known as Xenomorphs, which began with the 1979 science fiction horror film Alien'', starring Sigourney Weaver. It also often appears in crossover media with the Predator franchise.'''

This blog post is an updated (also with a neater table format and original descriptions) version of the List of Xenomorph castes article on Xenopaedia (which I created) and categorises every Xenomorph variety ; beyond the seven basic stages of the creature's life cycle (Ovomorph, Facehugger, Chestburster, Drone, Warrior, Praetorian and Queen) which one should be familiar with before reading this advanced information resource; that has ever appeared in any sort of official media from the Alien and Alien vs. Predator franchises, as well as any other Alien franchise crossovers.

See here for my version of this classification system that contains only those Xenomorphs that I have personally determined as canonical, this version also includes canon-style name changes for several Xenomorph varieties ('Corvus' instead of 'Ravager', 'Pontifex' instead of 'Carrier' etc.).

And be sure to see my comprehensive USCM arsenal and speculative analysis on the Yautja, also any anime/mecha fans reading this might be interested in my posts regarding topics from the Gundam and Zoids franchises.

These Xenomorph varieties are categorized into four primary distinctions with subsequent secondary and tertiary etc. distinctions:

 Abridged Contents 1 : — 246+1

1. Expanded Universe Xenomorph Castes — 43
 * Standard Xenomorph caste variants — 34
 * Auxiliary Xenomorph castes — 9

2. Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts — 81+1
 * Animals — 53+1
 * Sentient extraterrestrials — 15
 * Sentient extradimensionals — 6
 * Supernatural beings — 7

3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties — 96
 * Mutant Xenomorphs — 22
 * Genetically engineered Xenomorphs — 27
 * Hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs — 21
 * Cyborg Xenomorphs — 4
 * Fundamentally distinct Xenomorphs — 2
 * Xenomorphs of unknown conception — 20

4. Mutants and Creatures Derived From Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 — 26
 * Mutants — 11
 * Ovomorph equivalents — 3
 * Facehugger equivalents — 4
 * Chestburster equivalents — 2
 * Adult Xenomorph equivalents — 6

 Abridged Contents 2 : — 246+1

1. Expanded Universe Xenomorph Castes — 43
 * Standard Xenomorph caste variants — 34
 * Early life cycle — 12
 * Adult castes — 22
 * Auxiliary Xenomorph castes — 9
 * Acid Alien
 * Spitter
 * Boiler
 * Lurker
 * Raven — Possible 'Praetorian' Lurker
 * (Aliens:) Defiance Alien — Possible Praetorian
 * King — 3

2. Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts — 81+1
 * Animals — 53+1
 * Terrestrial — 41+1
 * Aquatic — 4
 * Flight capable — 7
 * Sentient extraterrestrials — 15
 * Yautja — 7
 * Engineer — 4
 * Drukathi — 1
 * Unnamed sentient extraterrestrial (Aliens: Earth Angel) — 1
 * Reaper (species) — 2
 * Sentient extradimensionals — 6
 * Tarkatan — 4
 * Shokan — 1
 * Unidentified symbiotic race (Ferra & Torr) — 1
 * Supernatural beings — 7
 * Vampire — 3
 * Lauren Pennington/Farenheit — 1
 * Darkling — 1
 * Parademon — 2

3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties — 96
 * Mutant Xenomorphs — 22
 * Naturally occurring mutations — 11
 * Unnatural mutations — 11
 * Genetically engineered Xenomorphs — 27
 * Spliced Xenomorphs (weaponized) — 4
 * Dr. Kadinsky's engineered Xenomorphs — 2
 * General Bush's engineered Xenomorphs — 6
 * The Weyland-Yutani Corporation's engineered Xenomorphs — 13
 * Grant Corporation Station 13's engineered Xenomorphs — 1
 * Technician First Class Tatjana Malik's (UPP) modified Xenomorphs — 1
 * Hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs — 21
 * Hybrids — 8
 * Tribrids — 7
 * Nonengineered hybrids — 5
 * Cyborg Xenomorphs — 4
 * Cybernetic Xenomorphs (Blior)
 * Xenoborgs
 * Eloise
 * Elden
 * Fundamentally distinct Xenomorphs — 2
 * Tusked Xenomorphs — 2
 * Xenomorphs of unknown conception — 20
 * Super Predator-controlled Xenomorphs (AVP: Evolution)
 * Hexapodal flying Drones (Aliens: Armageddon)
 * Kenner Products — 3
 * Alien 5 (unproduced) concept art — 2
 * Alien III (Vincent Ward) (unproduced) — 2
 * Aliens (1990 video game) — 10

4. Mutants and Creatures Derived From Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 — 26
 * Mutants — 11
 * Humans — 4
 * Synthetics — 1
 * Yautja — 1
 * Xenomorphs — 1
 * Animals — 4
 * Ovomorph equivalents — 3
 * Facehugger equivalents — 4
 * Chestburster equivalents — 2
 * Adult Xenomorph equivalents — 6

= 1. Expanded Universe Xenomorph Castes = This section contains variations of the standard Xenomorph varieties from the early life cycle (Ovomorph, Facehugger, Chestburster) and adult castes (Drone, Warrior, Praetorian, Queen) and also auxiliary Xenomorph castes that have appeared in the official media of the feature films and expanded universe lore.

Standard Xenomorph caste variants
This subsection contains variations of the standard Xenomorph castes from the early life cycle (Ovomorph, Facehugger, Chestburster) and adult castes (Drone, Warrior, Praetorian, Queen).

Palatine
(Also listed below under Queen Mother)

Palatine
(Also listed above under Praetorian)

Auxiliary Xenomorph castes
This subsection contains what are best described as auxiliary Xenomorph castes (though perhaps feasibly, possible variations of one or more of the standard Xenomorph castes) that have only appeared in the expanded universe lore.

King Alien (Kenner Products)
(Also listed below under Xenomorphs of unknown conception)

= 2. Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts = This section contains Xenomorphs spawned from nonhuman hosts (animals, sentient extraterrestrials, sentient extradimensionals and supernatural beings) that have appeared in the official media of the feature films and expanded universe lore.

Ultramorph — Unused concept
(Also listed below under Adult Xenomorph equivalents

Deacon
(Also listed below under Chestburster equivalents) and Adult Xenomorph equivalents)

Queen
= 3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties = This section contains the various mutant Xenomorphs, genetically engineered Xenomorphs, hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs, cyborg Xenomorphs as well as fundamentally distinct Xenomorphs and Xenomorphs of unknown conception, that have appeared in the official media of the feature films and expanded universe lore.

Mutant Xenomorphs
This subsection contains Xenomorph varieties that are mutated by either natural or unnatural means, but without the intent to do so (except for the Newborn, though that was only come about due to an unintentional mutation in the Cloned Queen from the cloning process involved in her creation) by either the Xenomorph Queen or genetic scientists involved.

Naturally occurring mutations
This section contains Xenomorphs that had become mutated presumably by way of spontaneous natural mutation.

Unnatural mutations
This subcategory contains Xenormorphs that had become mutated unintentionally by artificial means or accidentally (Luiz-Xenomorph hybrid).

Luiz-Xenomorph hybrid
(Also listed below under Nonengineered hybrids, Mutants/Humans and Mutants/Xenomorphs)

Elden
(Also listed below under Cyborg Xenomorphs and Mutants/Synthetics)

Skinburster
(Also listed below under Nonengineered hybrids)

Hybrid (Anchorpoint)
(Also listed below under Nonengineered hybrids)

Newborn
(Also listed below under Nonengineered hybrids)

Genetically Engineered Xenomorphs
This section contains Xenomorph varieties produced by genetic scientists, usually for the purpose of controlling (Spliced Xenomorphs) and therefore weaponizing them, but also to create varieties with new capabilities like the Spitter and Boiler that aren't necessarily human controlled (or weren't yet at the latest known stage of their development).

Spliced Xenomorphs (weaponized)
Spliced Xenomorphs are an alteration from the highly aggressive, highly predatory standard Xenomorphs. To make them more manageable, their DNA has been spliced with more docile, less predatory creatures. Alternatively, their DNA can be spliced with more aggressive, highly predatory creatures, with the intention of both weaponizing and mobilizing these creatures.

The Rogue
(Also seen below under Hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs)

Predalien Queen
(Also seen below under Hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs)

General Bush's engineered Xenomorphs
Appearing in Alien vs. Predator (1994 arcade game) were several varieties of Xenomorphs that are heavily implied to have been genetically engineered by General Bush's scientists working together with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation with the intent to develop them as bioweapons.

Earth (presumably) location (Aliens : Armageddon)
In the arcade game Aliens: Armageddon, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation engineered a variety of exotic Xenormorphs to use as weapons against a Xenomorph infestation on what is presumably Earth. These Xenomorphs had brown coloured carapaces instead of the usual black, the player is possibly a soldier of the United States Army, rather than a member of the USCM.

Hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs
This section contains Xenomorph varieties that are usually genetically engineered, but are significantly hybridized with one or two (tribridized) other species, usually with the intent to control and therefore weaponize them.

The Rogue
(Also seen above under Genetically Engineered Xenomorphs)

Predalien Queen
(Also seen above under Genetically Engineered Xenomorphs)

Dr. Catherine Fortune's supervillain/Xenomorph hybrids
In addition to Spliced Xenomorphs created from her own altered DNA, Dr. Fortune also used the DNA of supervillains from Arkham Asylum to create a series of five sentient Xenomorph hybrids that she also added her DNA to with the exception of a sixth Xenomorph hybrid which was created with biomatter from Killer Croc without adding any of her own DNA.

Dr. Niels Reinstöt's Ani-Men Xenomorphs (spawned from hybrids)
This subsection contains Xenomorphs that are not hybrids, but were spawned from hosts that had been previously hybridized by genetic scientists, technically making the resulting Xenomorphs tribrids.

Nonengineered hybrids
This subsection contains Xenomorph hybrids that were not the result of intent, or that were indirectly only able to come about with intent because of a previous unintentional mutation of the progenitor specimen (Cloned Queen).

Newborn
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations)

Skinburster
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations)

Hybrid (Anchorpoint)
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations)

Luiz-Xenomorph hybrid
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations as well as below under Mutants/Humans and Mutants/Xenomorphs

Cyborg Xenomorphs
This section contains creations of human science that are combinations of Xenomorph physiology and cybernetic technology, for the twice previously mentioned purposes of control and weaponization, but also one type of mostly organic synthetic known as a Construct (Elden), that became unintentionally mutated upon being injected with A0-3959X.91 – 15 Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15, for purposes unrelated to weaponization.

Elden
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations and below underMutants/Synthetics)

Fundamentally Distinct Xenomorphs
This section contains Xenomorphs that are fundamentally distinct from other varieties of Xenomorph at the most basic stages, meaning that standard Chestbursters and even Facehuggers of these varieties will always have specific distinctive features, not related to those derived from the DNA reflex.

Xenomorphs of Unknown Conception
This section contains Xenomorphs and Xenomorph-like creatures that are not mentioned or able to be deduced from depictions/context etc. with sufficient certainty as belonging to one of the preexisting categories or subcategories in this article.

King Alien
(Also listed above under Auxiliary Xenomorph Castes)

Unidentified Alien Creature
= 4. Mutants and Creatures Derived From Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 = This section contains the mutants and Xenomorph-like creatures derived from Chemical A0-3959X.91 – 15 that have appeared in the official media of the feature films and expanded universe lore.

Luiz-Xenomorph hybrid
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations and Nonengineered hybrids, as well as below under Mutants/Xenomorphs)

Elden
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations and Cyborg Xenomorphs)

Luiz-Xenomorph hybrid
(Also listed above under Unnatural mutations, Nonengineered hybrids and Mutants/Humans)

Deacon
(Also listed above under Xenomorphs Spawned From Sentient Extraterrestrials and below under Adult Xenomorph equivalents)

Ultramorph — Unused concept
(Also listed above under Xenomorphs Spawned From Sentient Extraterrestrials

Deacon
(Also listed above under Xenomorphs Spawned From Sentient Extraterrestrials and Chesburster equivalents)