alien expert mode on :There are several striking features that stand out when examining the adult form of I. raptus. The first, and perhaps the most prominent, is the head. Its seemingly disproportionate size indicates that there is a structural reason for this development. Its size could be due to an enlarged brain. This would not necessarily indicate a greater intelligence, but perhaps a more complex/sensitive brain that is designed to work not only as a means of assessing and thinking, but as an organ designed for extremely accurate sensing abilities. The idea of an enlarged brain has recently fallen under much speculation and debate within the scientific community - the idea as to whether or not the cranium is strictly for housing a brain may not be accurate.
A great many researchers believe that the cranium houses only a moderately sized brain - perhaps only occupying one quarter to one third of the head. The remaining portions of the cranium are believed to house complex nerve centers that aid in collecting and processing sensory acquired stimuli, pheromone glands, an array of communicative emitters, adrenal glands, and a compression chamber for use when striking with the secondary jaws. It is the general belief that the majority of the cranium's volume is geared towards the processing and interpretation of sensory acquired stimuli as well as the emission of various signals designed for the purpose of communication. Aside from the maintenance of the hive structure, and tending to the producing Queen, the primary role of an adult is that of a forager - acquiring food and host material to further the hive. With such a specific role it would logically follow that the Alien would rely heavily on its senses for the location and acquisition of prey, and understanding it's environment. This being said it is then the general belief that the head represents the center of sensory reception and communication for the Alien. The working model for stimuli reception is as follows: The head is covered with pore-like receptors - each dedicated to a specific stimuli - Olfactory/biochemical reception (i.e. - pheromones), thermal detection, bioelectric detection, and auditory reception. The pores gradate from back to front, meaning that there is a higher concentration of sensory receptors at the domed anterior portion of the head as compared to the back. This gives I. raptus 360° lateral sensory ability, and approximately 180° vertically with the area of optimal overall clarity being at the front. It is estimated that the total range of optimal clarity is 100 degrees radiating 50° on either side of the center-front of the cranium laterally, as well as 70° radiating vertically from the same point. This then puts the remainder of stimuli within varying degrees of peripheral reception.
Next to the head it is believed that the hands and feet are responsible for the second largest amount of sensory input. The pads that cover potions of these extremities are believed to be the primary receptors of auditory vibration through substrate as well as additional biochemical reception. It is thought that the latter is designed for identification and recognition hive mates and pheromone trails.
The head may represent the center of sensory reception, but it also believed to the center of communicative emission. Going under the belief that I. raptus utilizes bioelectric radiation and ultrasonic emission as primary means of communication with a secondary means being biochemical the head becomes the focal point for the majority of this activity. It is not clear if ultrasonic emission as released via the mouth, or through pore-like emitters similar to those used in receiving stimuli, but the current assumption is that it is produced within the head and emitted in a radiating pattern from the surface of the cranium. The same principle also applied to the emission and radiation of bioelectric signals. (This is discussed in further detain in the Communication essay).
It has been suggested that the indentations - or "pits" - that have been observed along the cranium of various Aliens may be an indication of its age. On the Nostromo, Fiorina 161, and the Auriga I. raptus was noted as having a glossy, almost, translucent cowl extending the length the head which covered the upper half of the cranium. The creatures encountered on LV-426 were missing such a cowl, and had very textured craniums. It has become the excepted theory that younger adults have a hard crown covering the length of their head. As the adult matures this crown is lost - either through molting, or it tightens and becomes part of the cranium - revealing the textured, cranium observed on LV-426. The primary force behind this theory is that the Aliens that infested Hadley's Hope were nearly four weeks old at the time of their encounter with the USCM dispatch - whereas in all other encounters the Aliens ranged in age from less than 24 hours to only a few days. The reason for the existence of such a cowl in younger Aliens is believed to be that the cranial structure is still in the process of development - in which case the crown would form a protective "blister" over the head.
In short : It "senses". It has no nostrals so smelling is out of the question. Also Aliens tend to survive in areas without oxygen, so it can live without air for some time.Ive got this stuff all written down in my "xenopedia". Its a book with all the facts, collected through-out the years as a HC alien fanboy. It also has the timeline of the movies, including the predator movies. Also it contains the "colonial marine technical manual". The PDF is currently in Solo's hands so he has to deceide what to do with it.
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“We've made too many compromises already; too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!"
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