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The Predalien is a unique hybrid of the Xenomorph and Predator, introduced on film in the 2004 movie Aliens vs. Predator. The Xenomorph species is known for taking on certain genetic traits from their hosts that can alter their form so much that they can be considered an entirely different species. This is exactly what happened in the case of the Predalien.
Predalien Origins
Predaliens are standalone beings rather than a thriving species in their own right. Therefore, they do not have a home planet where they grow and develop with the rest of their species. Instead, they are born in a variety of different locations, namely labs and, in the case of the most well-known Predalien, a spaceship.
In the 2004 movie Alien vs. Predator, three Unblooded Predators engage in a ritualistic hunt to take down a Xenomorph hive and prove themselves worthy of becoming Yautja warriors. At the very end of the movie, however, we discover that the last remaining Yautja, Scar, had actually been impregnated by a Facehugger earlier in the film.
The Predator does not realize this until it's too late, and the Predator/Xenomorph hybrid Chestburster forces its way out of the Yautja in the final scenes of the movie. This directly sets up the events of the next movie, where an Elite Predator will have to address the Predalien threat. This takes place in Alien vs. Predator: Requiem.
The Chestburster that emerges from Scar, the last remaining Unblooded Predator from the rite of passage ritual, is no mere Chestburster. The alien has a disturbing amalgamation of both Predator and Xenomorph features, with higher strength, intelligence, and pronounced mandibles that mirror those of the Yautja. The hybrid nature of the beast is what earns it its name — the Predalien — as it encompasses both aliens it embodies.
The Predalien goes on to decimate the crew on board Scar's ship, causing it to crash land in Colorado. The Predalien escapes from the wreckage to wreak havoc on Earth, creating even more Xenomorph specimens to add to its destructive hive.
Other Predaliens also appear in AvP games, comics, and novels. Some examples include the Predalien Queen from Alien vs. Predator: Extinction, the Ryushi Predalien, the Abomination, and the Area 52 Predalien from the Aliens vs. Predator PC game. Some of these creatures serve as boss monsters in the Aliens vs. Predator video games.
Predalien Biology
The Predalien is a hybrid blend of both Predator and Xenomorph, but it still takes on more Xenomorph qualities than it does Predator. As a result, it still follows the Xenomorph life cycle. The Predalien has many physical features of the Predator, like their signature mandibles, increased power, dreadlocks, and intelligence. But these are more like compliments rather than core features, and the creature sways much further toward the Xenomorph side.
Ovomorph
The Ovomorph is the first stage of Xenomorph development, so it is the first stage of development for the Predalien, as well. Ovomorphs are large eggs, 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.
The Predalien that was born in the AvP movie came from an Ovomorph laid by a frozen Queen inside an ancient pyramid. But since naturally occurring Predaliens only diverge from Xenomorph at the Chestburster phase, one could easily be created from an eggmorphed Ovomorph, as well.
Facehugger
Facehuggers hatch from their Ovomorph shells and immediately begin the search for a host, which is essential for their development as a Xenomorph. They are flat, slimy creatures with long tails and finger-like appendages that latch firmly onto their victim’s faces.
Once the Facehugger has successfully hugged one’s face, it paralyzes them and penetrates their throat, inserting the beginnings of the next Xenomorph phase into the host - the Chestburster. Rather than impregnating their victims with eggs that hatch inside them, Facehuggers supply an embryo that absorbs the host's DNA. This makes them more of a parasitic fetus.
The process of using the host’s DNA is called the DNA reflex. The DNA that the Xenomorph absorbs from the host has a direct effect on the development of its next form. This plays a large part in the unpredictability of the Xenomorph’s evolution and constantly gives rise to new varieties.
Chestburster
The Chestburster is the third phase of the Xenomorph’s lifecycle, and it marks the exact point where the Predalien is born. The Predalien Chestburster grows and develops from the embryo implanted in a host by the Facehugger, just like a regular Chestburster. Once it has fully developed and is ready to emerge, the Chestburster violently tears out of its host’s body, immediately killing them and showering anything unfortunate enough to be nearby in blood and gore.
Xenomorph Types Seen in the Alien Movie Franchise
Once the Predalien Chestburster emerges from its host, it swiftly disappears, looking for a safe place to hide and grow into a full-sized Predalien. This happens extremely quickly, within the space of a few hours.
The Predalien Chestburster is the first point in the Predalien's life cycle, where it starts to take on some of the appearance and attributes of the Predator. It is more greenish in hue than your average Xenomorph and has the elongated mandibles that set the Predator apart from most other beings.
Predalien
The Predalien is considered fully grown at the fourth stage of its lifecycle. This cycle parallels that of the Drone for the Xenomorph, looking very similar, apart from the Predator's physical blend of attributes. The Predalien inherits the Predator's unique, insect-like jaw, their dreadlocks, their muscular build, and their intelligence.
In addition to the Predator's intelligence and build, the Predalien also develops a unique breeding method that differs from any other Xenomorph found in the Alien universe. In the absence of a Queen, a regular Xenomorph is able to create new Ovomorphs through a method called Eggmorphing.
The Predalien, however, does not share this method. Instead, it can produce a long tube that, when inserted into a host, can implant a Chestburster embryo directly. This effectively skips the first two phases of the Xenomorph's usual life cycle, the Ovomorph and the Facehugger.
There is a catch for the Predalien, however. Instead of birthing new Predalien Chestbursters, the Predalien can only produce regular Xenomorph offspring. That means that it will remain the last of its kind until another Predalien is caught by a Xenomorph.
Predalien Variants
While the creation of a Predalien is a rare occurrence, it can and does happen a number of times throughout Predator media. These include organically created Predaliens that are made when a Xenomorph catches and impregnates a Predator, and synthetic Predaliens that are engineered in a lab environment.
- Gunnison Predalien
- Predalien Queen
- Area 52 Predalien
- The Abomination
- Ryushi Predalien
- LV-1201 Predalien
Gunnison Predalien
The Gunnison Predalien is the name given to the Predalien born at the end of Aliens vs. Predator, which becomes the Big Bad in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. It is the most well-known and referenced Predalien in the Predator universe, although others are created in several games and books.
The Gunnison Predalien is the one that displays the unique ability to impregnate hosts directly. It is not known whether this is a quirk of that particular Predalien or if all Predaliens can do that. While it is clearly an ability gained from its Predator influence, until another Predalien impregnates a host in any canon Alien, Predator, or AvP media, the question will remain unanswered
Predalien Queen
The Predalien Queen did not evolve naturally. Instead, it was an artificial creation spliced together by Dr. Kadinsky in Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction. There, Dr. Kainsky conducted experiments involving both Predator and Xenomorph Queen DNA that resulted in the creation of the Predalien Queen.
The combination of both Predator and Xenomorph Queen DNA resulted in several physical mutations, giving the Queen distinct Predator characteristics, like pincers and dreadlocks. She is also far stronger and larger than your average Xenomorph Queen, making her an incredibly formidable alien.
Like the Red Queen in Aliens: Genocide, the Predalien Queen is a unique being only found in the Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction video game.
Area 52 Predalien
The Area 52 Predalien is yet another unique specimen created in a laboratory environment. It appears in the 1999 Aliens vs. Predator PC game, where it served as one of the game's bosses. It was created in a Weyland-Yutani lab, where scientists were conducting experiments on a captured Predator.
They successfully incubated a Predalien, which was in containment until it broke free to cause havoc upon the ship. The Area 52 Predalien is reddish in color, like many other Predaliens of its type. It also has a more muscular build, moves slower than other Xenomorph varieties, and has a pig-like call.
The Abomination
The Abomination is one of the few naturally occurring Predaliens that was born in the 2010 Aliens vs. Predator video game. It was no normal Predalien, either. The Abomination was far more massive than most, with even more strength and intelligence. The ultimate threat, if you will.
Predators are immensely strong warriors, making capturing one a true feat — even for a Xenomorph. In this case, however, the Predator was intubated in the midst of an epic battle with a powerful Xenomorph named Specimen Six. The resulting creature was dubbed the Abomination, mirroring the Predator's feelings about Predalien creatures.
Predaliens are seen as shameful embarrassments and abominations of their kind by the Predators. As a result, they don't seem to last long. Especially in a video game like Alien vs. Predator, where you will also be tasked with taking down the Abomination as the final boss.
Ryushi Predalien
The Ryushi Predalien is one of the most important specimens, marking the very first time in the franchise that a Predalien was created. It hailed from a planet called Ryushi, where a Predator, suspected to be from the Top Knot Clan, was impregnated by a Xenomorph. The Ryushi Predalien was a naturally occurring specimen, meaning it was created from a Predator being beaten by a Xenomorph rather than being facilitated in a lab environment.
The Ryushi Predalien was said to be dark brown in color and extremely tall, possessing the same enhanced strength and intelligence as the future Predaliens to come. The Ryushi Predalien is one of the lesser-known specimens, but as the first of its kind, it remains one of the most influential.
LV-1201 Predalien
The LV-1201 Predalien is yet another specimen that is designed to challenge you in battle in an Aliens vs. Predator video game. This time, it is seen in Aliens vs. Predator 2: Primal Hunt, the DLC for 2001's Aliens vs. Predator 2.
What makes the LV-1201 Predalien unique is its host. The Xenomorph in AvP 2: Primal Hunt managed to ambush an Ancient Predator, meaning it had access to DNA that is far more advanced than any other Predalien in the franchise to date. This resulted in an extremely formidable foe with dark reddish brown skin, and the Predator's iconic dreadlocks and razor-sharp mandible.
Predalien Appearances
The Predalien is a most fearsome enemy seen in movies, comics, books, and video games. It is a rich character with a deadly combination of DNA that makes it even worse than the already extremely formidable Xenomorph. It is no wonder that the Predalien is so popular in Alien, Predator, and Alien vs. Predator media, as its epic combination of skills makes it one of the most dangerous threats in the Alien universe.
Movies
- Aliens vs. Predator (2004)
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Comics & Novels
- Aliens vs. Predator: Duel (1995)
- Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War (2010)
Games
- Aliens vs. Predator (1999)
- Aliens vs. Predator 2 (2001)
- Aliens vs. Predator 2: Primal Hunt (2002)
- Aliens vs. Predator (2010)
- Aliens vs. Predator (Arcade, 1994)
- Mortal Kombat XL (2016) – The Xenomorph’s fatality can produce a Predalien Chestburster if performed on a Predator opponent.
- Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction (2003)