Ovomorph

By Matt Fowler , Laura-May Randell , Robert Harper

Updated: Jun 26, 2025 5:06pm UTC

Ovomorphs are large, leathery eggs that mark the first phase of the Xenomorph life cycle in the Alien universe. They can be created in one of two ways, both as gruesome as the other. But no matter how the Ovomorphs are created, they always mean bad news.

Ovomorph Biology

The Ovomorph is the first stage of Xenomorph development - the egg. These eggs are quite large, being at least a few feet tall and featuring a thick, leathery shell that looks similar to reptile skin. While the skin looks quite thick, it’s also translucent in some spots, offering a glimpse of the Facehugger dwelling inside.

Ovomorphs can be created in one of two ways. Firstly, they can be laid by a Xenomorph Queen via a large Ovipositor attached to its chest. They can also be created through a process called Eggmorphing, where a Drone will capture a human or another life form and encase them in a thick substance.

The strange chemical breaks their bodies down and eventually triggers a metamorphosis that either causes them to turn into an Ovomorph or merely provides the biological means for one to develop. Eggmorphing is considered a less efficient way of creating Ovomorphs, but it offers the species a chance to survive when a Queen is not present.

This process is not thoroughly explored in the franchise, and the scene that introduced the process of Eggmorphing was even removed from 1979’s Alien due to concerns about it slowing the film down too much. Eggmorphing was later explored in the movie’s novelization, and the scene eventually made a return in the Director's Cut of the movie.

Ovomorph Origins

As Ovomorphs are the first stage of the Xenomorph life-cycle, they share origin stories. The subject is a hot debate, however, since there are three - and potentially four - different origin theories out there.

It’s impossible to say which theory is right or wrong since they all come from official Alien media, so it’s best to explore them all. The three theories are as follows: the Engineer-created theory (Prometheus/Alien: Covenant), the Predator-bred theory (Alien vs. Predator), and the natural evolution theory (extended universe media).

Then, there is the matter of [./Https://www.ign.com/wikis/alien/TV_Series_-_Alien:_Earth Alien: Earth]. Alien: Earth is a series set to premiere in 2025, so we will not know what origin story it follows or even if it creates its own until then. The only thing that is clear at this stage is that it appears not to follow the Engineer/Black Goo theory.

Xenomorph Origins According to Alien

The origins of Xenomorphs in the Alien universe follow the actions of the Engineers. The Engineers were an ancient and highly developed species that created Xenomorph-adjacent beings through a series of biological experiments involving a mysterious and highly potent Black Goo. This Black Goo acts as a mutagen, changing its host and creating new and dangerous creatures.

In the opening scene of the 2012 film Prometheus, we see an Engineer consuming the Black Goo and subsequently dissolving into a flowing river, spreading his DNA and implying that that is what planted the seeds of life on Earth that eventually culminated in humanity.

It is later revealed in the movie that although this Black Goo can be used to create life, it can also be used to destroy it. The mysterious Black Goo has unpredictable effects when exposed to certain life forms, creating biological weapons that can completely decimate civilizations. As Prometheus progresses, the humans discover urns containing Black Goo and find evidence that the Engineers were planning on using it to wipe out the human race.

This Black Goo mutagen and the Engineer’s experiments became uncontrolled, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the modern-day Xenomorph as seen on Alien’s [./Https://www.ign.com/wikis/alien/Ship_-_Nostromo USCSS Nostromo] in 2122.

David

Alien: Covenant introduces some new theories, placing David, a Synthetic, in the leading role in the creation of the Xenomorph. David was trying to create the ‘perfect organism’ through more biological experimentation using the Black Goo and DNA gathered from other unsuspecting victims. The movie introduces a number of different species thanks to David, including Neomorphs and the first iteration of the Xenomorph.

It was later theorized, however, that David merely hijacked a pre-existing design created by the Engineers rather than creating it from scratch himself.

Why do Synthetics "admire" the Xenomorph? Why does David obsess over creating something perfect? Check out How the Alien Franchise, and Ridley Scott, Evolved AI Sci-Fi!

Xenomorph Origins According to AvP

In the Alien vs. Predator universe, the Xenomorphs were a species bred and manipulated by the Predator (Yautja) species. The Yautja (or Predators) are even bigger and badder than Xenomorphs and pride themselves on their hunting prowess.

Taking down Xenomorphs is both a sport and a rite of passage for these apex warriors, who intentionally seeded planets with Xenomorphs specifically so they could hunt and kill them to challenge themselves.

Predators were revered and worshipped as Gods in the ancient world. Ancient civilizations were heavily influenced by the species, building pyramids for them and offering humans as sacrifices to the Facehuggers to create the Xenomorphs that they would subsequently hunt.

This theory trashes the idea of the Engineers altogether, making way for a whole new narrative where the Predators cultivated the Xenomorphs for the fun of sport and to challenge their abilities. This explains why the Xenomorphs are so prolific on Earth, but not how they were created in the first place. Rather than being specifically created, the species already existed but was harnessed by the Predators.

Xenomorph Origins According to Alternate Universe Media

There is one last Xenomorph origin theory to explore. This one is posited in some of the comic books and video games based in the Alien universe. Comics like Alien: Outbreak, and Alien: The Theory of Alien Propagation explore the idea that Xenomorphs evolved organically on a planet named Xenomorph Prime.

Xenomorph Prime is said to be a very inhospitable environment. This, coupled with the competition from other predator creatures on the planet, forced the species to become extremely efficient and violent in order to survive. This is what led to the Xenomorphs becoming such brilliant predators, especially when they’re placed in confined spaces filled with soft and squishy humans.

This theory removes all meddling from outside sources and explores how the species would have naturally developed on their hostile planet. In addition to being mentioned in the comics, Xenomorph Prime is also explored in concept art for things like the 2010 Alien vs. Predator video game.

Xenomorph Types Seen in the Alien Movie Franchise

Xenomorph Origins According to Alien: Earth

Alien: Earth is premiering on Aug. 12, 2025, and much will be left unknown until then. But what is clear is that the Xenomorph's origins will seemingly have nothing to do with the Engineers or their precious Black Goo.

It seems more likely that the Xenomorphs in Alien: Earth's universe will have evolved organically over millions of years in space. Whether that evolution took place on Xenomorph Prime or another planet is unclear, and we will have to wait for the release of Alien: Earth to know if that's even their angle at all.

We know from the trailer that a rogue ship crashes in Prodigy City, on Earth, in 2120, and the craft contains five of the most dangerous alien species in the universe, one of which is an Ovomorph.

Variants

While there is one standard Ovomorph form that is described above and appears in most Alien media, there are also others that appear. As is a running theme in Alien, some people cannot seem to keep their hands to themselves and start meddling with Xenomorphs in labs. Others seem to form naturally.

Royal Ovomorph

A Royal Ovomorph is an egg that contains no ordinary Facehugger, but a Royal Facehugger. This is one that has a much longer incubation period and will turn into a Queen Xenomorph rather than your average Drone. The Royal Ovomorph is first suggested in Alien 3, where Ripley discovers that she has been incubating a Chestburster for the entire movie.

The Royal Ovomorph was not explicitly shown in the movie, but its presence is implied. A deleted scene in Alien 3 does, however, give us a glimpse of a dead Royal Facehugger in the wreckage of the USS Sulaco's EEV.

Artificial Ovomorph

As humans and AI in the Alien universe cannot seem to stop themselves from wanting to study or tamper with the Xenomorph species, there are, of course, artificial Ovomorph creations throughout the franchise. These are Ovomorphs that are created in a lab through synthetic means rather than organically by the Xenomorphs themselves.

One notable example is in the Alien: Rogue comic, where the [./Https://www.ign.com/wikis/alien/King_Xenomorph King Xenomorph] was created. Since Xenomorphs hatch from eggs, the implication is that an artificial Ovomorph was created. David was also tampering with Xenomorphs in Alien: Covenant and artificially produced Ovomorphs to create the first iteration of the Xenomorph.

While the early Xenomorph and King Xenomorph were undoubtedly synthetically created, the creation of an Ovomorph was not explicitly shown in either case, but it is heavily implied.

Ovomorph Appearances

Ovomorphs play a large part in the Alien universe and are present in most Alien media. They are, however, not present in all Alien or Alien-related movies or games. If you’re looking to see some more Ovomorphs yourself, you can find them in the following places: