User:Freighttrain/Headcanon 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 features my personal headcanon Xenomorph classification system and categorises every Xenomorph variety; beyond the seven basic stages of the creature's life cycle (Ovomorph, Facehugger, Chestburster, Drone, Warrior, Praetorian Guard and Queen regnant) 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, that I have determined is truly canonical (or have altered it to be so), using the principles of realism, practicality and likelihood as the primary determining factors regarding this.

It is necessary to have first read my dictum on Xenomorph hive dynamics in order to best understand my altered Xenomorph classifications.

See here for the comprehensive standard version of this classification system that contains all varieties of Xenomorphs featured in official media.

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.

Revised nomenclature (click each list heading to see the reasons for revision)
 * 1) General terminology:
 * 2) Mesoskeleton → Exoskeleton
 * 3) Dorsal spines → Dorsal tubes
 * 4) 'Praetorian' (caste prefix) → Superadultus / Hyperadultus
 * 5) Hull blades → Breacher talons
 * 6) Standard Xenomorph caste variants:
 * 7) Early life cycle
 * 8) Praetorian Egg → Praetorian Ovomorph
 * 9) Royal Facehugger Egg → Queen Ovomorph
 * 10) Hyperfertile Egg → Hyperfertile Ovomorph
 * 11) Royal Facehugger → Queen Facehugger
 * 12) Adult castes
 * 13) Lurker → Venator
 * 14) Raven → Vanguard
 * 15) Warrior Dome → Tirone
 * 16) Subterranean Xenomorph → Fossorial Warrior
 * 17) Warrior Carved → Hardened Warrior
 * 18) Evolved Warrior → Adapted Warrior
 * 19) (Acid spraying variety) → Sputative Warrior
 * 20) (Regenerative variety) → Epimorphic Warrior
 * 21) (Camouflaging variety) → Chameleonic Warrior
 * 22) (Aliens:) Defiance Alien → Lictor type A (moulted)
 * 23) Royal Guard → Lictor type B (spawned)
 * 24) Praetorian → Praetorian Guard
 * 25) Ravager → Corvus
 * 26) Colossal Ravager → Heavy Corvus
 * 27) Carrier → Pontifex
 * 28) Super Carrier → Heavy Pontifex
 * 29) Queen → Queen regnant
 * 30) War Empress → Imperatrix
 * 31) Empress (w/o matured King) → Queen regent
 * 32) Empress (w/ matured King) → Queen consort
 * 33) Empress (w/ deceased King) → Queen dowager
 * 34) Queen Mother → Empress
 * 35) Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts:
 * 36) Runner → Scout
 * 37) Crusher → Aries
 * 38) Altered Xenomorph Varieties:
 * 39) Sewer Mutation Warrior Alien → Icteric sewer Warrior
 * 40) Red Xenomorphs → Erythristic Xenomorphs
 * 41) Pink Ovormorph → Rhodistic Ovomorph
 * 42) Spliced Xenomorphs → Weaponized Xenomorphs
 * 43) Smasher → Bruiser
 * 44) Defender → Captor
 * 45) Arachnoid → Springer
 * 46) Razor Claws → Butcher
 * 47) Chrysalis → Juggernaut

Revised colouration
 * 1) Corvus (Ravager) Blue-green → Black
 * 2) Heavy Corvus (Colossal Ravager) Blue-green → Black
 * 3) Pontifex (Carrier) Lighter → Darker
 * 4) Heavy Pontifex (Super Carrier) Lighter → Darker
 * 5) Bat Alien — Pink/tan → Black/olive green
 * 6) Butcher (Razor Claws) Pink → Red

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

 Abridged Contents 1 : — 82

1. Standard Xenomorph Caste Variants — 29
 * Early life cycle — 9
 * Adult castes — 23

2. Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts — 29
 * Animals — 25
 * Sentient extraterrestrials — 4

3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties — 21
 * Mutant Xenomorphs — 8
 * Genetically engineered Xenomorphs — 11
 * Hybrid Xenomorphs — 2

 Abridged Contents 2 : — 82

1. Standard Xenomorph Caste Variants — 32
 * Early life cycle — 9
 * Ovomorph — 4
 * Facehugger — 3
 * Chestburster — 2
 * Adult castes — 23
 * Drone — 4
 * Warrior — 7
 * Praetorian Guard — 7
 * Queen regnant — 3
 * King — 1
 * Empress — 1

2. Xenomorphs Spawned From Nonhuman Hosts — 29
 * Animals — 25
 * Terrestrial — 18
 * Aquatic — 2
 * Flight capable — 5
 * Sentient extraterrestrials — 4
 * Yautja — 2
 * Mala'kak — 2

3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties — 21
 * Mutant Xenomorphs — 8
 * Naturally occurring mutations — 8
 * Genetically engineered Xenomorphs — 11
 * Weaponized Xenomorphs — 3
 * Dr. Kadinsky's engineered Xenomorphs — 2
 * General Bush's engineered Xenomorphs — 5
 * Grant Corporation Station 13's engineered Xenomorphs — 1
 * Hybrid Xenomorphs — 2
 * The Rogue
 * Predalien Queen

= 1. 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 Guard, Queen regnant).

Palatine — Hyperadultus Drone
(Also listed below under Empress)

Palatine — Hyperadultus Drone
(Also listed above under Drone)

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

Aliens: Infestation
= 3. Altered Xenomorph Varieties = This section contains the various mutant Xenomorphs, genetically engineered Xenomorphs, hybrid/tribrid Xenomorphs from the official media of the feature films and expanded universe lore, that I have included (and in some cases altered) in my headcanon.

Mutant Xenomorphs
This subsection contains Xenomorph varieties that are mutated by either natural or unnatural means, but without the intent to do so.

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

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

Weaponized Xenomorphs
Weaponized Xenomorphs are an alteration from the highly aggressive and predatory standard Xenomorph. 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 further weaponizing and mobilizing these creatures.

The Rogue
(Also listed below under Hybrid/Tribrid Xenomorphs)

Predalien Queen
(Also listed 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.

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

The Rogue
(Also listed above under Genetically Engineered Xenomorphs)

Predalien Queen
(Also listed above under Genetically Engineered Xenomorphs)