Headcrabs on Xen

[moonkids]

What do headcrabs actually do on their native planet? Do they do their zombie thing over there, and what's the purpose of it anyway? I've never seen a crab attached to a vortigaunt or anything. Any ideas?

 

[Dr0ndeh]

we dont even know for sure if they are actually from xen or not. but if they are they probably do infect the vorts.

 

[beeglebug]

What is the point of the zombification as well? Biologically speaking. Are they supposed to be like facehuggers from alien? I'd love to see an official description up of the Headcrab as a species, something about it's life cycle, where it's from originally etc... They have always facinated me, even more so now we have the extra types (fast ones, and black ones).

 

[Solver]

The fast and black headcrabs are, I believe, genetically engineered by the Combine and do not naturally occur. The usual headcrab, I think, can live off some sort of a fungus/plant on Xen, so it doesn't really need to attack others there. On Earth, though, they have no such nutrition, and therefore seek to take any host body they can - remember that heddies can be seen attacking everyone, human or not.

 

[beeglebug]

Headcrabs must surely take hosts, even on Xen (or their native planet/dimension) They seem to be built purely for the purpose of latching on to humanoid faces, the way their legs are built for jumping, and the fact that they have the mouth/beak thing wouldnt make sense for a fungus eating herbivore.

I like the idea of the geneticaly engineered crabs, that could make sense... Would that make the long legged ones some kind of early version maybe? The combine extended the legs first and then addd the poison bit later?