Yautja Headcanons

“Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus

“Celebration” by Kool & the Gang

“Fuck Donald Trump” by dropz

“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam

“We Are the Champions” by Queen

“Dancing in the Street” by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

“Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People (which is especially petty and hilarious because Trump used “Y.M.C.A.” as his campaign theme song)

“Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John

“Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles

tbh, I find that most of this fandom depicts yautja being able to speak human languages with little difficulties if any at all in some cases.

I never really understood that because first off they don’t have lips-

lol

all human languages consist of “m” “b” “v” “w” “u” and “p” sounds. so any soft sounding words such as “ball” or “play” or even “muffin” therfore should be physically impossible for them to pronounce. I literally sat in my bed for like ten minutes pulling my lips from my mouth trying to say these words.

Spoilers: That shit didn’t work out.

I don’t think their mandibles would assist much either considering the tips are boney and sharp, providing no muffle affect like lips do.

The confusion seems to come from the media sources. Perry’s addition of Yautja firmly sets the females as such, whereas Dark Horse eventually took a different route in the comics with the Hish… And I think the two have become a little blended in a lot of stories & interpretations, causing the confusion. They’ve never been clearly stated as different ‘subspecies’. I think Yautja became the firm prevalent species/name because it was the first time the species had a name other than Predators.

This is a big reason why I think it’s so important to set up either which version you’re using, or if you’re making your own interpretation in fic, art, headcanons, etc. Because it’s so muddled. And each option really has different things you can do with it… And of course setting out with your own rules is always a creative venture.

They don’t sleep as often as humans; they can easily go around three days without sleep, without any sort of drawback. That or, like ducks and Dolphins, basically sleep with one eye open.

They’re extremely light sleepers when they’re on a hunt, and opt to simply nap short periods of time when they’re in their chosen resting spot.

Predator Anatomy: They have tongues?!

As well all know there is a new Predator movie coming out in a couple weeks, and as a huge fan I’ve noticed a few things that I would like to share. It was confirmed that the new predator has a DNA upgrade, but we still don’t know what kind of upgrade is involved and with what DNA was used. But I have a theory, probably not a good one but I’m gunna throw it out there anyways. As with any fandom that I’m in, if there is a sequel movie coming out I will binge watch the whole series from start to last. And when the news came out of the new predator movie I rewatched the series and came across something. So, when I had come to the 2010 movie Predators I had a thought come to mind. We all know that the original yautja as the star in the predator movies, but in Predators a subspecies is made the star. And it is my theory that the new 2018 predator has a bit of both the original yautja and the subspecies yautja mixed together.

For example, the original predators are more earthy colors. Browns, greens, greys, colors that are easier to blend into nature with. Whereas the subspecies is more blacks, greys, and even reds. Which is much harder to blend into nature with. The original yautja are taller than humans for sure, but in Predators the original that was prisoner to the subspecies was dwarfed by the newer yautja. The 2018 predator is nearly twice as tall as the original, and my theory is that with both the original and the subspecies DNA the heights would be combined. But I also have to take I to consideration that there could be a DNA used that I am unaware of that adds to the height of this new predator. I also know that this new predator had scaly skin like the subspecies, but with a smoother texture like the original. The new predator has the darker coloring of the subspecies with splashes of red, bigger claws and more flared mandibles, yet has a more original look to the face.

Here is some photo evidence of the differences between the two species of yautja.

Original:

And now for the subspecies:

The difference between the two is painfully clear. But when you look at the new predator you can see both of them in this new breed of yautja.

2018 Ultimate Predators the middle. Subspecies on top. Original on bottom.

If you’re going for a more clean cut to the lore version then being able to have kids would likely altogether be off the table. If you look at ‘hybrid’ species in nature they’re very rare to work. And if they do then there’s usually genetic issues. Like Mules being sterile, and Ligers prone to gigantism. Both of those are bred from ‘close’ species.

In a Sci-Fi context however there usually needs to be an explanation too, or some draw back from it. Like in 2049 Ana who was born of a natural human & replicant developed a compromised immune system. Or the various hybrids in Star Trek, explained away by an origin species seeding worlds. Although that may be a little iffy at times.

As for the specific examples, I’m too tired to dig for them right now, Wiki probably has it if you want to browse. But, the whole thing is worthy or not they’re seen as a ‘prey’ species. And a main thing that would play in is that they can’t get pups from them. Which plays a huge roll in their society & status. But as far as ‘prey’ goes it’d probably be looked at in an alien way akin to bestiality, even tho it would be xenophilia. Yautja outside of specific cases seem to be a proud species that keep to themselves society wise, despite their great travels.

But in that context, yes, I think he’d be outcast as a Bad Blood. As Yautja who tampers or gets modified themselves would be. Having hybrid offspring would likely be considered abominations like Predaliens. And Predaliens come from their most honoured & ritualistic prey.

Clan symbols, like the Yautja language are a little vague in the lore. Not every predator strides around with them engraved or branded onto them, yet most Hunters belong to one. The ones with defined meanings, as far as I know, are ones that aren’t Clan Symbols per se, but noteworthy kill markings:

As far as the MAIN symbol for a Clan, I don’t know of any rules. I know some people design their own, and simply mimic the look of other yautja symbols. Adding familiar elements or sometimes new things to make a unique look. Some more ‘canon’ ones to look at could include:

Dachande’s supposed clan marking (it may not be one, could very well be interpreted as a kill symbol, but the circle makes it different). It looks like a 1st Human Kill mark within a circle:

Another that again could be interpreted as a Gro’Tye kill mark is the one displayed by the Enforcer. It is distinct enough and in a different orientation than the kill mark, so either conclusion could be drawn:

The last one is definitely a Clan Symbol, it is the one Scarface marks over-top his slain enemy’s statue of his killed father. A mark of his victory over the enemy ‘Ooman Clan’. It is a more complex symbol than any of the kill marks but still has a very clear Yautja feel:

I hope that helps, and I apologise that I don’t know of any specific system or set of rules to follow for clan markings. Like the Predator language it is pieces here and there that are translated and confirmed ‘canon’. I’m going to be very ‘nerdy’ for a moment and say I wish they had the same exposure as Star Trek’s Klingons. They have a full alphabet, language, and house symbols, enough officially confirmed that it’s basically a language people can learn to speak.

This is a very easy question to answer. The Original AVP comic from ‘89 was the main (although loose) inspiration for the 2004 film, and has the most notable human character, Machiko Noguchi, to not only team up with a Yautja but have the strength & tenacity to live in Yautja society for a good time. I would highly suggest the original comic run, or if you prefer a more in-depth novelisation the story is told by the Perrys in AVP: Prey. Her story is continued throughout several comic stories/novels and her ‘official’ retirement from being recognised as a Yautja-accepted hunter is in AVP: Three World War.

There are also smaller incidents like in AVP: Duel where Light-Stepper ‘teams-up’ with a Marine. Or, Predator 1718 which gives some back story to Greyback (the elder in Predator 2), where he teams up with a human captain to fight his mutinous pirate crew.

For more recent comics Predator: Fire and Stone (however you feel about the lore introduced by Prometheus), is a good read with Ahab teaming up with a human in search of his ‘white whale’, the Engineers, to hunt one down and claim as a trophy.