Xeno pigment changes

dk

The original Xenomorph was supposed to be translucent but because we could see the actor inside, it didn't work and that is basically why the xeno was sprayed black.  The technology just wasn't there:

In Covenant, we finally saw the neomorph that looked closer to what Giger was going for color/translucent wise but basically looked white instead:

In the same movie, we saw the xeno which was black:

The neomorph resulted from the pathogen that was within a mutated plant and the result was a white creature- interestingly, the Engineers lacked pigmentation (not sure if that has anything to do with it). But then how did we get to the dark xenomorph?

Ingeniero

Inherited Traits?

There was definitely a significant change from the Neomorph to the Protomorph in color when compared. 

The Deacon on LV-223 was also different (unique) in regards to comparison to it's Xenomorph counterparts.

hox

We are told by Ash that the face hugger has a habit of replacing its outer layers with polarised silicon, a dark metallic element. The chestburster apparently goes through a similar process, since it wasn't black when it leaped out of Kane's body.

Why it would do this is anyone's guess, but maybe the silicon adds considerable to the strength of the Alien's exoskeleton. Maybe a result of David's tinkering?

BigDave

Indeed the Intention appeared to be something more Transparent but that was not possible with  the Technology/Effects back in late 70's

Good Point regarding the Deacon as this had a Darker Pigment than the Neomorph.

Some of the Experiments in David's Workshop had a Pale/Fleshy Look, like the Neomorph but others had that Greyish look that the Hammerpedes had.

The Adult Neomorph did have a Darker/Greyish Pigment than when it was Newborn, and so as the Organisms Age maybe Pigment Changes?

However the Xenomorph Chest Buster in AC and Deacon in Prometheus had a Darker Pigment than the Neomorph Newborns and Xenomorph Chest Buster from ALIEN at least.

So all we can do is Speculate... its likely those who worked on the Project never had any Reason to any differences.

Dark Nebula

I'm pretty sure the newborn neomorph that erupted from Hallet's mouth had semi-transparent skin, it's just hardly visible because of the blood.

However, I didn't notice any transparency in the newborn neomorph that erupted from Ledward's back. It had pale skin. Idk is it because of the lighting in the room?

The Chestburster had transparent skin, its bones and organs were visible.

You can also tell by the odd studio practical puppets.

BigDave

Nice Images ;)

Does show our Xenomorph and Neomorphs from AC dont have a Exo-Skeleton look to them, but Internal Skeleton.

hox

Could be both. The skull of an adult xenomorph has a ‘metallic’ sheen to it, or something like a crab’s shell.

Here’s an ancillary question: are xenomorphs hot or cold blooded, do you think? Creatures with exoskeletons are cold blooded. How would it have felt to Parker when the Alien grabbed him by the head, cool or warm? Of course, a xenomorph doesn’t have to play by the rules...

dk

hox Of course, a xenomorph doesn’t have to play by the rules...

If we consider AVP as canon (most people don't), it is interesting that the queen had been hibernating/dormant until humans stirred the pot.

In Alien 3, the xeno withstood molten temperatures and in AR they could easily survive underwater.

The warm/cold blooded question is interesting to ponder and maybe smarter people can weigh in.

I would say that because it has acid for blood, biological rules wouldn't apply and makes for a nice and neat plot convenience.

BigDave

Certainly they may even NOT have Acid for Blood per say!

But a Fluid that reacts with certain Environments to then TURN into a Acid.  So like the Chemical Composition is different while the Fluid is moving around the Organism.

The other Alternative to this is that the Organisms Genetic Material is SOMEHOW able to withstand the Corrosive Effects of the Acid/Chemical.

Michart

Hi. In Prometheus creature borned in Shaw was white trilobite and when he impregnated the Engineer, humanoid borned Black Dicon. Dicon was Black because mixed with gene pool with Engineer and he has bio overal and black blood. Original alien Has bio overal bio suit propably comes from engineers. David used Black goo at Shaw and creating white beasts and he take an engineer and mixed with Shaw blood and created Xenomorph but in AC alien didnt have biosuit ... Its bore and stupid I Dont know

BigDave

Certainly the Trilobite was a Indication that what we have is a Hybrid Organism a Face Hugger Type Creature that has Human DNA.  I would assume the Deacon would appear similar if Born from a Human, it would look similar but maybe would be Smaller.

The Neomorphs are a Result of what we can assume are some kind of Mold/Fungi that is Infected with the Pathogen to have the DNA of some Organism that is Genetically Related to a Deacon, well what ever Process that the Black Goo was obtained from.  The Spores would infect a Host to Gestate a Neomorph.

It appears that David had Experimented and tried to Engineer the Neomorph, as well as other Organisms that where Experimented with the Black Goo more Directly, and then he had Combined the Black Goo and Neomorph with Various other Organisms to Obtain their Traits in the GOAL of making a AMALGAMATION of Organisms Traits/DNA that he would then use to INFECT a Egg Cell to create other Organisms.

The Engineers did not YIELD as Good Results, but with Dr Shaws Egg Cells he was able to Create the Xenomorph.

The Xenomorph looks more Organic because it is a Protomorph and likely the Progenitor to the Xenomorph in the Franchise, that would have to go through some more Evolving/Engineering before we ARRIVE at the Eggs on LV-426.

Thoughts_Dreams

It depends on what kind of settings that they use when they use the sunbed. ;)