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Predator (alien)

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Created by
  
Jim Thomas John Thomas

Creator
  
John Thomas

Classification
  
Extraterrestrial life

Type
  
Extraterrestrial life

First appearance
  
Predator

Last appearance
  
Predators

Predator (alien) The ALIENPREDATOR Hybrid From AVP REQUIEM Has Been Revealed By USA

Portrayed by
  
Kevin Peter Hall (Predator, Predator 2) Peter Cullen (Voice, Predator) Hal Rayle (Voice, Predator 2) Ian Whyte (Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) Ian Feuer (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) Bobby "Slim" Jones (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) Brian Steele (Predators) Derek Mears (Predators) Carey Jones (Predators)

Played by
  
Kevin Peter Hall, Ian Whyte

Movies
  
Alien vs Predator, Predator, AVPR: Aliens vs Predator, Predator 2

Similar
  
Alien, Jason Voorhees, Ellen Ripley, Scorpion, Sub‑Zero

The Predator (also known as Yautja or Hish-Qu-Ten) is a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in the Predator science-fiction franchise, characterized by its trophy hunting of other species for sport. First introduced in 1987 as the main antagonist of the film Predator, the Predator creatures returned in the sequels Predator 2 (1990) and Predators (2010), the upcoming Shane Black installment The Predator (2018), and the crossover franchise Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

Contents

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The Predator has been the subject of numerous novels, video games, and comic books, both on their own and as part of the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint. Although a definitive name for the species is not given in the films, the names Yautja and Hish-qu-Ten have been alternatively used in the expanded universe, suggesting that two unique "Predator-species" exist. Created by brothers Jim and John Thomas, the Predators are depicted as large, sapient and sentient humanoid creatures who possess advanced technology, such as active camouflage, directed-energy weapons, and are capable of interstellar travel.

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Design

Predator (alien) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons11

The Predator design is credited to special effects artist Stan Winston. While flying to Japan with Aliens director James Cameron, Winston, who had been hired to design the Predator, was doing concept art on the flight. Cameron saw what he was drawing and said, "I always wanted to see something with mandibles." Winston then included them in his designs. Stan Winston's studio created all of the physical effects for Predator and Predator 2, creating the body suit for actor Kevin Peter Hall and the mechanical facial effects. The studio was hired after attempts to create a convincing monster (including Jean-Claude Van Damme wearing a much different body suit) had failed. Arnold Schwarzenegger recommended Winston after his experience working on The Terminator.

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The Predator was originally designed with a long neck, a dog-like head and a single eye. This design was abandoned when it became apparent that the jungle locations would make shooting the complex design too difficult. Originally, the studio contracted the makeup effects for the alien from Richard Edlund's Boss Film Creature Shop. However, problems filming the alien in Mexico caused the makeup effects responsibilities to be given to Stan Winston. According to former Boss Films make-up supervisor Steve Johnson, the makeup failed because of an impractical design by McTiernan that included 12-inch length extensions that gave the Predator a backward bent satyr-leg. The design did not work in the jungle locations. After six weeks of shooting in the jungles of Palenque, Mexico, the production had to shut down so that Winston could make a new Predator. This took eight months and then filming resumed for five weeks, ending in February 1987.

Film portrayals

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Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator; the idea was that star's abilities in martial arts would make the Predator an agile, ninja-esque hunter. When compared to Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura, actors known for their bodybuilding regimens, it became apparent a more physically imposing man was needed to make the creature appear threatening. Eventually, Van Damme was removed from the film and replaced by actor and mime artist Kevin Peter Hall. Hall, standing at an imposing height of 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m), had just finished work as a sasquatch in Harry and the Hendersons.

Hall played the Predator in the first and second movies. He was trained in the art of mime and used many tribal dance moves in his performance, such as during the fight between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Predator at the end of the first movie. In Predator 2, according to a "making of" featurette, Danny Glover suggested the Los Angeles Lakers to be the other Predators because Glover himself was a big fan. Hall persuaded some of the Lakers to play background Predators because they couldn't find anyone on short notice. Hall died not long after Predator 2 was released in theaters.

In Alien vs. Predator, Welsh actor Ian Whyte, standing at 7 feet 1 inch and a fan of the Predator comics and movies, took over as the man in the Predator suits, such as portraying the "Celtic" Predator during Celtic's fight with an Alien warrior. Whyte returned to portray the "Wolf" Predator in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

In Predators, actors Brian Steele and Carey Jones both portrayed a new breed of Predator known as the "Black Super Predators", who have been dropping humans on their planet for many years to play a survival game against them. In a nod to the first film, Derek Mears played the Predator as the creature appeared in the original, dubbed the "Classic Predator".

Special and make-up effects

The Predator's blood was made from a combination of the liquid from glow sticks mixed with K-Y Jelly. The mixture loses its glow quickly, so new batches had to be quickly made between takes. The technique was used in all five films featuring the Predator.

The camouflage effect was designed by R/Greenberg Associates, under the direction of Joel Hynek. The idea for the effect came in a dream one of the Thomas brothers (who wrote the film) had, in which there was a chrome man who was inside a reflective sphere. The man blended in, perfectly camouflaged, reflecting from all directions and only visible when in motion. It took quite a while before they figured out how to do it, which was basically an image repeated in a pattern of ripples in the shape of the Predator's body. It proved very effective and was a new way of presenting an "invisible man." Before there was digital rendering technology all of the camouflage was done optically using photo-chemical means, so that one would never get the same result twice from combining the same pieces of film.

After the original movies, Amalgamated Dynamics took over from Stan Winston Studio in creating the props for the Predators in the Alien vs. Predator film and a number of effects houses worked on the various other effects.

Predator

First appearing in the 1987 film, Predator, the titular character lands in Val Verde via starship. He has come to this location due to the wars between rebel and government forces, already having made several kills among the locals before beginning to hunt down a United States Army Special Forces group, sent there to rescue presidential cabinet ministers kidnapped by guerrilla forces. The Predator dispatches the soldiers one by one with a vast array of weaponry until Major Dutch Schaeffer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the last one alive. Dutch eventually confronts the creature, covering himself in mud to hide his heat signature from the Predator's thermal imaging, and setting up numerous booby traps. Though he manages to disable the Predator's cloaking ability, the Predator manages to capture him, and then, in a display of Honour, discards his mask and electronic weaponry before challenging Dutch to a final duel. Physically outmatched, Dutch eventually sets off one of his traps, which crushes and mortally wounds the creature. After being asked what he is by Dutch, the Predator simply mimics his question and sets off his self-destruct device before laughing maniacally, though Dutch manages to escape the explosion.

Predator 2

Set in 1997, ten years after the events of the first film, the 1990 sequel follows a new Predator who sets his sights on Los Angeles due to its summer heat and drug wars between Jamaican and Colombian gangs, as well as the L.A.P.D. attempting to fight both gangs (Promotional material for the film said this Predator was younger, and chose a densely populated urban area for a more ambitious hunt). After eliminating the leaders of both gangs, the Predator begins actively targeting the L.A.P.D. officers attempting to investigate his handiwork, specifically Lieutenant Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover) and his three partners (Rubén Blades, María Conchita Alonso and Bill Paxton). A federal officer, Keyes, played by Gary Busey, is also killed. Towards the end of the movie, the Predator is ultimately confronted by Harrigan in his own ship and killed when Harrigan uses one of his own weapons against him. The Predator's clan-mates de-cloak and carry away the dead Predator's body and give Harrigan a flintlock dating from 1715 as a sign of respect. The film also makes a reference to the Alien films, as shown in the Predators' trophy room, which has a skull closely resembling that of an Alien.

Alien vs. Predator

In 2004, a Predator ship arrives in Earth's orbit to draw humans to an ancient Predator training ground on Bouvetøya, an island about a thousand miles north of Antarctica. A buried pyramid which gives off a "heat bloom" attracts humans led by Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), who unknowingly activates an Alien egg production line. Three Predator novitiates enter the structure, killing all humans in their way with the intention of hunting the newly formed alien warriors. Two Predators die in the ensuing battle, and the third (credited as Scar in the credits) allies himself with the lone surviving human, Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan) to battle the escaped Queen Alien. The Queen is defeated, but not before she fatally wounds the last Predator. The Predator ship hovering above the battleground uncloaks and the crew retrieves the fallen Predator. A Predator elder gives Alexa a spear as a sign of respect, and then departs. Once the Predator ship is in orbit, it is revealed that a chestburster was in the Scar Predator's corpse, though this specimen has Predator mandibles.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

Set immediately after the previous film, the Predalien hybrid on board the Predator scout ship, which just separated from the mothership from the previous film, has grown to full adult size and sets about killing the Predators on board the ship, causing it to crash in Gunnison, Colorado. The last survivor activates a distress signal with a video of the Predalien, which is received by a veteran Predator, who sets off towards Earth to "clean up" the infestation. When he arrives, the Predator tracks the Aliens into a section of the sewer below town. He removes evidence of their presence as he goes by using a corrosive blue liquid. He uses a laser net to try to contain the creatures, but the Aliens still manage to escape into the town above. The Predator fashions a plasma pistol from his remaining plasma caster, replacing one that was damaged while he hunted Aliens all across town (accidentally cutting the power to the town in the process) during a confrontation with human survivors. Later on, the Predator encounters the same human survivors again in the Alien Hive and loses his plasma pistol, with the last four humans taking it with them as they flee town in the hospital helicopter. The Predator then fights the Predalien singlehandedly, and the two mortally wound one another just as the United States military drops a tactical nuclear bomb on the town, incinerating both combatants as well as the few remaining humans in the city. The salvaged plasma pistol is then taken by United States Military officers to Ms. Yutani.

Predators

In Predators (which deliberately distances itself from the prior Alien vs. Predator films), it is revealed that there are two warring Predator tribes: one group uses quadrupedal hunting beasts and elaborate traps to hunt, and the other hunts traditionally. An international group of soldiers and dangerous criminals from different locations from Earth are dropped onto a forested planet used as a Predator game reserve. After numerous skirmishes resulting in the deaths of two Predators and all but two of the captured humans, the last Predator manages to kill another member of his kind from a rival tribe, but is defeated in combat by the human survivors. The survivors then head off to seek a way back to their home, just in time to witness more people be dropped.

Expanded universe

In the Aliens vs. Predator novel series (based on the Dark Horse Comics) by David Bischoff, Steve and Stephani Perry, the Predators, known in the series as "yautja", are depicted as living in a matriarchal clan-based society bearing similarities to a pack mentality whose strongest and most skilled of the group lead. The Predators are portrayed as sexually dimorphic mammals. The females are larger and stronger than males and sport more prominent mammary glands (like human females). Both genders give off a strong musk to signify aggression, and females can also emit it when in estrus. This musk can be detected by other Predators and canids, though it is imperceptible to humans. Predators in the Perry novels are not monogamous, and it is common for veteran warriors to sire hundreds of offspring (known as sucklings) with multiple mates. It is also revealed that their blood has the capacity of partially neutralizing the acidity of Alien blood. Their religion is partially explored in the series, showing that they are polytheistic, and that their equivalent of the Grim Reaper is the so-called "Black Warrior", who is seen as an eternal adversary who eventually wins all battles.

Though female Predators are occasionally referred to in Steve and Stephani Perry's novel series, one does not make an appearance until the comic book limited series Aliens vs Predator: Deadliest of Species. The female's design contradicts the descriptions given in the Perry novel series, as it superficially shows little distinction from males.

The Darkhorse / TopCow cross-over: MindHunter, which pits the Witchblade, Darkness, Aliens, and Predator franchises against each other, depicts a female Predator in a manner closer to the Perry description. It is very tall, has feminine hips, mammary glands, a very muscular build. and sports different armor than the males.

In Randy Stradley's limited series Aliens vs. Predator: War, it is revealed through the narration of the character Machiko Noguchi that Predators were responsible for the spread of Aliens throughout the galaxy, though the Predators themselves deny this, stating that their large interplanetary distribution is due to simultaneous convergent evolution.

The comic series Predator and Aliens vs Predator: Three World War introduce a clan of Predators referred to as "Killers", who are enemies of mainstream Predators (here referred to as "Hunters") because of their tradition of training Aliens as attack animals rather than hunting them, as well as their desire for killing as opposed to honorable hunting. The character Machiko Noguchi notes in issue #1 of Three World War that "You have to understand the mindset of the Hunters, and the honor they place on facing a worthy opponent on an equal footing... a kill is the end result, but it's not the point of a hunt.... For the 'Killers,' that wasn't the case. They were all about the killing." They are first seen in the 2009 Predator series, where a number interfere in an East African civil war, coming into conflict with both humans and their Hunter counterparts. By the time of Three World War the Killers are assumed to have been wiped out by the Hunters, but some survive and begin attacking human colonies, forcing Noguchi to forge an alliance between humans and the Hunters in order to deal with them.

In John Shirley's stand alone novel Predator: Forever Midnight, Predators, now referred to as "Hish", are shown to possess a gland located between their neck and collarbone which secretes powerful hormones into their bloodstream and which drives them to hyper-aggression. When this gland is over-stimulated, it sends the creatures into a frenzied rage, causing them to attempt killing any living thing in sight, including members of their own species. This "kill rage" can be contagious and spread from one Predator to another, driving them all to attack each other. The Predators as a species barely survived the wars provoked by their kill glands, and they have learned to control the gland's secretions with artificial hormone regulators.

In Ian Edginton and Alex Maleev's graphic novel Aliens vs. Predator: Eternal and the videogame Predator: Concrete Jungle, Predator flesh and blood, if consumed, is shown to have the capacity of greatly lengthening a human's lifespan.

In the first-person shooting video game Call of Duty: Ghosts, Predator appears as a hidden killstreak on the multiplayer map "Ruins" from the Devastation map pack. The player can play as Predator for a brief period by completing a Field Order and obtaining a care package. Predator is also a playable guest character via downloadable content in the fighting game Mortal Kombat X, opposite an Alien.

Characteristics

Predators are physically distinguished from humans by their greater height, arthropod-like mandibles and long, hair-like appendages on their heads that are set into their skulls (popularly perceived as "dreadlocks"). Their bodies are resilient to damage, capable of recovering from multiple gunshot wounds and radiation doses which would be fatal to humans. Their wounds do however require medical attention and they incorporate a portable surgical kit in their armor for this purpose. They are also capable of enduring excruciating pain. Predators are much stronger than humans, having been portrayed as being easily capable of outmatching a conditioned adult human male and shattering solid concrete with their bare hands. They are also skilled climbers, and will readily move through trees or across rooftops in pursuit of prey. Though capable of surviving exposure in Antarctic temperatures for an extended period of time, it is implied that Predators have a preference for hot equatorial climates. Their blood is luminescent phosphor green in color. Their vision operates mainly in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; they can easily detect heat differentials in their surroundings but are unable to easily distinguish among objects of the same relative temperature. A Predator's bio-mask increases its ability to see in a variety of spectra, ranging from the low infrared to the high ultraviolet, and also filters the ambient heat from the area, allowing them to see things with greater clarity and detail. While they are capable of breathing Earth's atmosphere, the creature in Predator 2 is seen using a breathing mask after losing his helmet (Although it should be noted that this Predator had just been shot multiple times and may have therefore not been operating at his full potential). Their dietary habits are also mentioned in Predator 2, where it is revealed that the creature regularly visits a slaughterhouse every two days to feed on the stored meat there.

Throughout their film appearances, Predators have undergone numerous design variations. In Predator 2, the main Predator was designed to look more urban and hip than its predecessor. Design changes included tribal ornamentation on the forehead, which was made steeper and shallower, brighter skin coloration and a greater number of fangs. This Predator was made less reliant on his plasma caster, and more cunning with the use of nets, spears and bladed weaponry. In Alien vs. Predator, the appearance of the Predators was redesigned to make them seem more heroic. Redesigns included a reduction in head and waist size, broader shoulders, a more muscular physique, piranha-like teeth on the upper jaw, and dryer and less clammy skin to further differentiate them from the Aliens. In Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the Predator was returned to the sleeker design concept prior to Alien vs. Predator. For the so-called "Black Super Predators" in Predators, the designers used the differences between a cassette tape and an iPod as an analogy in differentiating the new Predators from the classic. The Super Predators were designed as leaner and taller than the "classic" Predator design, and they have longer faces, tighter armor, and more swept back dreadlocks.

Culture and history

Predator culture revolves around the hunting and stalking of dangerous lifeforms. After making a kill, Predators typically skin or decapitate the carcass, converting it into a trophy. If immobilized or at the brink of death, a hunter will activate the mass-explosive self-destruct-mechanism in his wristband, honorably erasing any trace of its presence to its prey. It is often alluded to that the reason Predators hunt is not for sustenance or elimination of threats, but as sportsmanship or rite of passage, as they will normally attack only life forms that have the ability to provide them with a challenge. In Predators, it is revealed that there are at least two different Predator tribes, which are engaged in a long lasting blood feud. The film also introduced a pack of spined, quadrupedal beasts used as flushing dogs by the "Super Predators". Creature designer Gregory Nicotero used hyenas as a basis for the creature's physique, and the spines were added later by Chris Olivia.

Predators made contact with early human civilizations such as the Ancient Egyptians, the Khmer Empire, and Aztecs, as well as a fictitious culture inhabiting what is now Bouvetøya. Upon arriving on Earth, the Predators were worshipped as gods by humans, and they taught many of the civilizations how to build pyramids (an explanation as to why many of these different ancient societies had distinctly similar cultures and architecture), but in return expected sacrifices of humans for use as hosts for huntable Xenomorphs (Aliens)- the ultimate prey for initiates. The Predators returned to Bouvetøya every century to consummate the bargain, until at one point in the ritual, the Xenomorphs spread out of control, resulting in the Predators detonating a bomb that obliterated the entire civilization. Relations between humans and Predators deteriorated from that time on; the Predators then viewed humans as little more than another quarry to hunt.

Predators feature prominently in the folklore of certain cultures; some Latin American people refer to the species as "El Diablo que hace trofeos de los hombres" (Spanish for "The Demon who makes trophies of men"), and Jamaican superstition identifies Predators as demons from the spirit world. When hunting humans, Predators normally avoid certain individuals such as children and some adults if they are unarmed, though they will spare armed ones if they happen to be pregnant or sickly unless they are attacked by them. A human who has managed to kill a Predator or a Xenomorph in single combat or has fought alongside a Predator is usually spared by the deceased hunter's comrades and given a gift (often a rare or exotic weapon) as a sign of respect.

A learner's first successful Alien hunt is completed with the marking of his helmet and forehead with the acidic blood of his kill. The hunter generally operates alone. Even when hunters appear in groups, they rarely perform anything that resembles teamwork. Predators use Aliens as prey, creating artificial gaming reserves by keeping Queens and even Facehuggers in captivity. It is shown in a brief scene in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem that Predators have had prior contact with a race of creatures resembling the "Space Jockey" in the film Alien. This is confirmed in the film's DVD commentary.

Language

The script of the Predators is expressed in the films and other media through written patterns of dashes. These written symbols appear on the creatures' gauntlet displays, their helmets, architecture, and many other surfaces. The most common vocalizations of the Predators consists of a series of clicks, roars, snarls, and growls which are consisted of recorded vocalizations of animals such as lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, black bears, grizzly bears, alligators, and elephants. Predators will mimic human language on occasion, and have been shown to use their helmets to understand and speak human languages. Author Steve Perry designed a constructed language set for the Aliens vs. Predator novel series.

Comparisons and Hypotheticals

The main purpose of this section is to provide comparisons seen in films and references to actuality or observed reality. And also to try and reconcile some obvious discrepancies in the various films.

Predators are portrayed as hyper-intelligent, strong and powerful with lightning fast reflexes and speed. They are hyper-vigilant, agile, fearless, intrepid, and gallant. Their culture is portrayed as radically even advanced; they have mastered interstellar travel as well as faster-than-light travel, they have radically advanced technology, all of which points to a culture that has existed for eons. For comparison the Predator civilization is a class-III civilization on the Kardashev scale, whereas humans are barley a class-I civilization.

They are portrayed as utterly merciless and relentless when in purist of prey and will use any and all methods, especially malice and guile, and will stop at nothing or let anything stand in their way to obtain their quarry. Their culture is based on the ritual hunt and blood sacrifice. From comic literature and what is seen in the films it is best to imagine Predator culture as gang culture with culture. Their culture has many parallel similarities with the feudal samurai (bushi) culture of Japan. In which the most honorable life is a glorious and honorable death in battle against a worthy opponent.

They are depicted as living for all aspects of the hunt. The hunt is the backbone Predator culture. It is said in Predators that all aspects of the hunt are essential to them. From preparation, to choosing the appropriate prey and weapons to hunt it, studying it in its environment, tracking and stalking, tactics, to the kill itself, and of course the taking of trophies. For Predators it is mentioned that the academics of the hunt are as important as the physical hunt itself. Even the preparation and presentation of the trophy is not to be overlooked. All aspects of the hunt are art forms to be mastered by the Predator.

Predators are depicted as being monomaniacal methodical in their study and patience when stalking their prey. They are portrayed as stalking, observing, and studying their prey for days, weeks, as long as it takes to prepare themselves for the perfect kill.

The Predators not only search out the deadliest most worthy species as prey, they are depicted (Predator: Requiem) genetically manipulate and enhance them as well to make them even more deadly. Predators also create their own prey through genetic manipulation. It is unknown if there is only a single species of Predator or several related subspecies. What is known is they will genetically enhance themselves so as to be the best hunter-warrior they are capable of being.

Predators use a variety of weapons to hunt prey. They use projectile weapons such as plasma cannons and throwing weapons. But prowess and combat with edged weapons seems to be especially respect in Predator culture. Perhaps more than anything is the act of proving martial prowess and superiority in one-on-one combat against a worthy adversary or adversaries. A Predator will disarm itself and throw down its weapons and armor and engage in hand-to-hand battle with worthy prey, or even multiple prey, to prove its martial prowess and superiority as not only a hunter-warrior, but also as a supreme species in all respects.

Predator physiology is not well understood. Their blood is phosphorus based. And that their bones and bodily tissues are shown to be nearly indestructible. This is supported by the fact they are seen crushing concrete with their bare hands with a single punch (the mean force required to shatter an unreinforced concrete block is 7,117,154 newtons (1.6 million psi)) with no ill effects. This is reinforced in the film Predators and Predator 2 where claw punctures are seen in a concrete wall that a Predator has scaled. They are seen being slammed into solid stone structures with such force the stone is explosively shattered, and again the Predator recovers with ill effects and continuing on as though nothing happened. They can leap enormous distances, and can jump with ease between trees and building tops. They seem impervious to many things, such as heat, cold, radiation, injury, pain, trauma, and recover and regenerate quickly from all forms of trauma. Though they are generally depicted as bipedal, but are seen to just as frequently travel quadrupedal, especially when traveling in dense vegetation in pursuit of prey. When bolting given what is seen in the films and from comic lituture they seem to reach top speeds of 40-60mph (The fastest man of earth Usain Bolt ran a 19.95 200m and averaged 28mph) and appear to maintain those speeds for long periods of time.

Overall it appears an average Predator would more or less the same size and weight as a present day Grizzly bear or Polar bear. That is about 8-11ft in height and between 800-1,600lbs. Their apparent variation in size is within the standard deviation. Humans range from just under 4 feet to seven feet or more. A 5-foot discrepancy in range. It appears Predators too fluctuate greatly with regards to size. The Predator (1989) appears to be 7 feet or so in height. The Predators in AvP and the film Predators seem to closer to 8-11 feet in height. In line with the same standard of deviation as humans. Their weight is a little more ambiguous but sense they are humanoid and appear to have humanoid physiology and proportionality then a good estimate would be anywhere from 800-1,600lbs.

In terms of strength, from what is seen in the films an adult Predator can generate at least 1 million pounds with a single punch, approximately the force required to shatter cement (AvP). Grizzly bears are routinely observed tossing 700lb steel dumpsters end-over-end with a single paw like it was a basketball with hopes of getting free food.

However, this does present a few issues with the films showing a human male enduring a pretty nasty beating from a Predator. If a Predator can shatter concrete with a single punch (Predators), then it could very easily decapitate a human with the slightest slap. For comparison, the force required to shatter a human skull is approximately ~2,300 newtons. The force required to break a human femur 4,000 newtons, and so on. The force required to decapitate a human from blunt-force trauma is generally ~5,600 newtons. A car wreck on the freeway at 60mph for an average person (150lbs) produces between 80,000-170,000 newtons and is generally fatal even if restrained. The rough estimate required to break or fatally dislocate a human neck is more or less 3,000 newtons.

In other terms, based on the available information, and with lack of further evidence we can use some generally accepted figures to make comparisons to demonstrate the discrepancy. A 500lb silverback gorilla is roughly 9-15 times stronger than an adult male. A male chimpanzee 88-140lb is more than twice as stronger a human male capable of lifting around 500lbs. And as been demonstrated from attacks on people can literally pull a person’s arms off. A Heavyweight boxer can generate 1,200-1,500psi. Mike Tyson is said to have routinely generated up to 1,700psi when measured with instrumentation. A Predator would then would be capable of generating roughly 940-times more power per strike than a heavyweight boxer. That’s 3,100 times greater than force required to crush a human skull; 1,780 times greater force than required to break a human femur; 1,270 times greater force than required to traumatically decapitate a human via blunt-force trauma; 3,730 times greater than the force required to break a human neck. In another vernacular, given these rough figures a Predator would literally reduce a human to a gelatinous goo with a punch or two. And surely a single blow to the head of chest would be lethal. And a Predator could easily dismember a human. As seen in the films a Predator would be more than capable of tearing the back bone out of its victim assuming there's anything left and it hadn’t shattered all the bones to gravel.

The only way to reconcile this discrepancy is if the Predator, like on Earth, had advanced martial arts training, and was intentionally "pulling" its punches and was hobbling its prey with nonlethal strikes. In other words, the Predator is playing with its kill. This would account for the prolonged beating human subjects are seen taking. It doesn’t account for however the ease with which humans seem to kill Predators.

Predators are seen sustaining multiple bullet impacts from high powered assault rifles (AR-15 1,800J; AK-47 (1,991 J) with minimal effects. However, in Predators it is shown that .338 Lapua (6,525 J) will fully penetrate a Predator’s body.

The exact function of their unique mandible structure is unknown. But coupled with the clicking sounds they are observed making and their exaggerated head size may indicate a form echo location. Their sense of smell is also astounding and is their hearing as alluded to in the movies Predators. The function of the long dreadlock like hairs found on the heads of Predators also remains a mystery. It is possible to speculate that Predators use these large hairs like structures like antennae to detect electric currents given off by their prey, like a shark uses its ampullae of Lorenzini detect electric impulses from prey. Animals which have sensory ability to detect electric signals from prey often produce electric pules themselves, which they use in a similar fashion as sonar or echo location. There’s a very good chance that predator’s produce an electric field or pulse as well. Electroreception simply means the ability to detect electrical currents. What does electricity have to do with Predator's habitat? Any muscular movement or twitches in living animals create small electrical currents. At hospitals, electrocardiogram machines track the electricity resulting from our heart beating (seen in Predators). The question of just how sensitive these electroreceptors in Predators is another question. Sharks for instance can detect the tiniest changes in this electrical current, down to one-billionth of a volt [source: Fields]. If two AA batteries were connected 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) apart, a shark could detect it. [source: Viegas].

The fact they have phosphorus based blood would seem to suggest Predators have the ability to produce bioelectrogenesis. Bioelctrogenesis is the generation of electricity by an organism. In earth based biological cells, the Sodium-Potassium Exchanger maintains a voltage imbalance, or cell potential difference, between the inside of the cell and its surroundings. Also called a pump, the exchanger is said to be "electrogenic," because it removes sodium ions and potassium ions to produce an electric charge. Plant cells also exhibit light-induced electrogenesis which may explain why Predator blood glows phosphorescent yellow or green. Certain types of bacteria are able to generate electric currents which are used in microbial fuel cells. This might also explain certain aspects of Predator physiology if indeed the Predators are using it for the same purposes. However, the term usually refers to the electricity-generating ability. Organisms exhibiting such bioelectrogenesis often also possess sensitive and very accurate electroreceptive abilities and sensory antennae such as long hair like appendages (which are more widespread and may explain the long hair like structures on the predator’s heads) as part of an integrated electric system. Electrogenesis may be utilized for electrolocation, self-defense, electrocommunication and sometimes for the stunning or electrocution of prey. If this is true it would add yet another supersensory ability to the Predator’s already impressive array of sensory abilities.

It is also speculated the Predators may possesses chromophores. These are pigment-containing and light-reflecting organelles in cells. They are largely responsible for generating skin and eye color in animals. Mature chromatophores are grouped into subclasses based on their color (more properly "hue") under white light: xanthophores (yellow), erythrophores (red), iridophores (reflective / iridescent), leucophores (white), melanophores (black/brown) and cyanophores (blue). It is speculated Predators can rapidly change color through mechanisms that translocate pigment and reorient reflective plates within chromatophores. This process, often used as a type of camouflage such as in squid and octopi, is called physiological color change or metachrosis. If this is the case, then Predators have complex chromatophore organs controlled by muscles to achieve this. Such signals can be hormones or neurotransmitters and may be initiated by changes in mood, temperature, stress or visible changes in local environment and can be used to communicate, as camouflage, ETC.

Predators, like cephalopods, are believed to operate chromatophores in complex, wavelike chromatic displays, resulting in a variety of rapidly changing color schemes. Like chameleons on earth, Predators may use physiological color change for social interaction. They are also very skilled at background adaptation, having the ability to match the color of their local environment with remarkable accuracy.

The reality is this in a theoretical humans’ vs Predators (HvP) encounter. Guns that go “BANG!” do not defeat guns that go “ZAP!”. Animals that evolved to forage for grubs and nuts do not defeat animals that have evolved to hunt for survival. Predators of any kind are generally larger and considerable more powerful than then their prey (Great White shark vs. seal (GWSvS)). We as a species can barely get off this ball of rock and mud we call earth. Predators have mastered FTL (Faster than light) travel. Their intelligence is so vastly superior to ours in all respects that the very idea that any human might “outsmart” or “outwit” a Predator is laughable. It’s akin to an infant playing chess with a Grand Master. The very notion that a human could stand toe-to-toe with Predator in any regard (physical or mental) is absurd from what we know from the films. In other words, humans are fodder for Predators

References

Predator (alien) Wikipedia