This is an archive of past discussions about Headcrab. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page.
Personally, I refer to fast zombies as "leapers", poison zombies as "tanks", and poison headcrabs as "headspiders". The official names are a little unwieldy. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.36.247.159 (talk) 03:16, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
The official names are official for a reason. I've never heard any of these terms before, and I doubt many people have. They might be unwieldy but Valve have never provided us with shortened names except in the case of the Zombine.Druckles (talk) 17:48, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
Xen
I have modified the sentence about the new varieties of headcrab. They are not native to Xen (nothing is, official statement), so I changed it to "come from". Please be on the watch for such inaccuracies in other articles. Thank you.
-Please state which official statement said that nothing is native to Xen. Valve have actually said that the Combine weren't in Half-Life 1 (assuming you're implying that all beings on Xen are created by the Combine). Coozins23:04, 26 April 2008 (UTC)
Nothing is native to Xen, as said by Marc Laidlaw himself. Check "The Marc Laidlaw Vault" for more information. The Combine didn't create anything, they modified existing genes, such as the natural headcrab (I don't think this is entirely confirmed, but they definitely use species of headcrabs for their own purposes). Druckles (talk) 17:52, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
Zombine
I just added a picture of a Zombine from and Episode 1 preview, but I'm afraid its a little messy (laid out with the text etc...) could someone fix it and tell me what I did wrong? Mostly Zen12:21, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
Its a bit better now but it still intrudes into the section on Lamarr. Maybe cos the picture is too big? Mostly Zen12:44, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
It seems to me that a better picture should be used for the Zombine. Instead of a zombine playing oppossum, perhaps a zombine holding a grenade and/or charging would give a better overall picture? I have no idea how to change/add photos on this website, so I'll leave it open to anyone who may be interested.--Bionic Pants14:54, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for the better picture, although an in game screenshot would be nicer than just the model view. Is it me or has the Zombine section become waay more speculative than it was when I started it? Theres loads of 'assumes' and 'suggests' and 'speculates' and 'perhapses' in the article now :( Mostly Zen16:49, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
-Hey I haven't seen Episode 1 being played, so I'd appreciate a screenshot for a bare zombine (with no headcrab), might e interesting from a biological point of view. Henners9107:16, 19 April 2007 (UTC)
I removed "occasionally" from the mention of headcrabs being able to detach from their host in HL2 - they are always able to detach from the host, but if you kill the zombie by shooting it in the head, the crab and host die at the same time, preventing the crab from detaching pomegranate 15:21, Mar 5, 2005 (UTC)
I removed the inaccurate info regarding the zombie's slow movement, they can run. I also removed redundant info about the strength of the zombies. ---Jackel 16:16, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Someone posted that headcrabs spawn from Gonarch of Xen. While Gonarch does spawn children, if you look at them closely they do not resemble headcrabs as they have a sac underneath their abdomen just like Gonarch. In addition, there are many more headcrabs present in Half-Life 2 than Half-Life even though Freeman kills Gonarch in Half-Life. Also, the varying types of headcrabs suggest varying origins. So I removed the references depicting headcrabs spawning from Gonarch. ---LiquidSnake66 19:09, 1 Nov 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.69.142.6 (talk)
Alien reference
I removed the comparison to the facehugger from Alien, since I didn't feel it was valid. The only real similarity is that they are alien life forms that attach themselves to humans. The facehuggers cover the victim's mouth while they deposit larvae in the poor creature's stomach; the headcrabs engulf the entire head. When the Alien creature finishes gestating, it bursts forth, killing the host; the headcrab controls the host for the remainder of its lifecycle. Et cetera. -DynSkeet(talk) 15:49, May 22, 2005 (UTC)
yes, and headcrabs dont jump off and die after contact like facehuggers, they stay on the host and do their zombification party trick until they are killed or the host becomes to badly damaged (in which case the 'crab ejects and finds another suitable creature) ~Tryzon
It should be noted in the article, though, as there are strong resemblances in the combat tactics, as both facehuggers and headcrabs head straight for the target and jump at the head, infecting the victim and converting their body into a drone/grunt, for lack of a better word. -LJ
As there are different forms of headcrab, I believe it would be appropriate to section off the newer species, clearly showing them to be seperate but still similar to the normal headcrab.
For example, the first 'other' headcrab mentioned is the 'fast zombie' but it is not named as such but is instead described.
Furthermore, these two species cause seperate types of headcrab zombies, surely that is reason enough to more clearly define them.
Any objections to this? i'd be happy to do a write-up
--SaintEmpire 13:32, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)
--In this case, I feel that "more is not better". The various flavors of headcrabs are easily described in a paragraph and IMO not significant enough to merit having their own articles. If you are so inclined, I'd support reorg/deliniating the different kinds within the existing entry, but anything more is unncessary. Wikipedia is bloated enough with self-referencing articles, we do not need to add one for each variety of a minor creature in a computer game.---Jackel 14:43, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)
--Actually the face hugger's egg lands in the chest area, and not the stomach because first, the alien bursts out of the chest, and second, the stomach acid would probably destroy the egg. 24.12.194.11002:42, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
Latest update
Please cite any evidence to support this line:
"It's natural prey on Xen is the vortigaunt (AKA alien slave)"
Personally, I think the latest update from 159.134.51.238 (both the removed and added info) represents a step backwards for this article.
I agree. The only apparent support for the "natural prey" line actually appears at the end of the article: The "sore throat" vortigaunt is roasting a headcrab. This was probably intended more as a joke than a statement on the food chain of an alien dimension. -DynSkeet(talk) 12:14, Jun 13, 2005 (UTC)
Thanks to 25 for a nice cleanup and reorg...it was getting pretty cluttered with all those "One theory...", and was beyond the scope of this entry.---Jackel 23:39, 18 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Screenshots
Does anyone have a screenshot of a headcrab zombie from Half-Life 2? (i.e. as a comparison, much like the picture of the lone headcrab) --Yar Kramer18:22, 15 July 2005 (UTC)
Dunno. We could just copy the current "headcrab zombie" picture and use that as the "Half-Life 1" pic. --Yar Kramer01:28, 16 July 2005 (UTC)
Done. Peruse the results for yourself. I'll leave it to you to find a way to fit it into the article, seems a bit image-saturated at this point. CABAL07:07, 16 July 2005 (UTC)
Can someone confirm the "mouth" appearing in zombie's chests? I always assumed that the "spikes" you see were actually the ends of ribs.
The evolved forms seen in Opposing Force open and close just like normal jaws, so that notion seems viable. CABAL09:22, 16 August 2005 (UTC)
Furthermore, if you watch one "eating" they seem to be "feeding" their chest rather than their...whatever is left of their head. Which raises an interesting idea: since the headcrab's body prevents access to their host's existing mouth, perhaps the evolution of the chest orifice is more than just a creepy mutation, but actually a very pragmatic development, allowing them to consume solids.---Jackel18:11, 20 December 2005 (UTC)
I think the chest actually gets mutated/transformed into a mouth, so the ends of the ribs perhaps do function as teeth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.62.234.50 (talk) 17:30, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
In the regular VALVe Half-Life games, the chest opens and closes and in HL1 we see the zombies stuffing their chests with food. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.107.95.52 (talk) 20:52, 13 November 2008 (UTC)
Lamarr and Beaks
I'd also like to mention that the (basic) headcrab in HL2 is missing the "beak" that you see in the original. You'll notice that Dr. Kliner's "pet" headcrab, Lamarr, has been "de-beaked" (as he says), but the Lamarr model is identical to the other headcrab models. So I'm presuming that Valve were lazy and didn't model the beak?
I 'unno. I, uh, can't actually remember the beak in the original (I was too busy killing them to examine them closely, I guess) ... could you maybe show a screenshot pointing it out? Yar Kramer
There is a difference in the models. The normal headcrab has small black claws that encircle the entire circumference of the hole underneath the main body, which is used to latch itself onto human heads. Lamarr doesn't have those claws, so presumably he'd never be able to hang on long enough to take over a person. CABAL09:27, 16 August 2005 (UTC)
(About Lamarr) "he'd never be able to hang on" - don't you mean she'd? :)
I've actually had two beta screenshots of a standard headcrab and Lamaar, although I ended up deleting both of them a long time ago. The standard head-humpers have these small "beaks" close to its mouth, Lamaar doesn't. ╫ 25ring-a-ding16:07, 15 September 2005 (UTC) ╫
I added a section at the end speculating on headcrab gender. It would likely mean that headcrabs would have two forms of reproduction, being produced by a Gonarch or through parasitism. Now that I think about it, that seems a bit unlikely. Perhaps calling Lamarr a "she" is simply in line with the tribute to Ms. Lamarr.
While playing Garry's Mod, I decided to compare the headcrab and Lamarr ragdolls. Lamarr also seems to lack the small spurs on the legs along with the bits around the mouth area. 216.236.163.21 (talk) 17:16, 30 July 2008 (UTC)
hl2 zombies
has anyone else wonderd why the zombies have white lab coats on when the people wear "cives" aka there blue junp suit type clothes? just thought id mention it. chardrc
Because in the original game, all the zombies were made from facility personnel. So most of the zombies were scientists, and thus dressed in their lab coats. But there were also zombies dressed in Black Mesa security uniforms and HECU uniforms. The zombies in HL2 are made from civilians, not Black Mesa personnel, hence the different clothes Rusty200502:43, 30 October 2005 (UTC)
^ Not in HL1. Only OpFor had zombies in any outfits other than science team uniforms.
While the vast majority of HL2 civilians wear all-blue uniforms, there are a handful of them seen in-game who do wear the same white top and blue pants worn by HL2 zombies. This probably suggests that the all-blue uniforms were added later during game development, because it is inconsistent to imply that all zombie victims wore the same white top. ╫ 25ring-a-ding17:27, 1 November 2005 (UTC) ╫
Actually, the blue uniform is composed of pants, underlying shirt, and the blue jacket. It's wviable, that when the victim's chest is ripped open, and the arms transform into claws, the jacket is either completely ripped off or the Zombie rips what's left of it off, because it obstructs it's 'mouth'. --Mikael Grizzly21:58, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
ok thanks . and ya i did mean the hl2 zombies...gess i never noticed the poeple in white coats and jeans... owell. Chardrc22:02, 17 December 2005 (UTC)
I think that the outer blue jacket of the uniform is made of denim. As a result of this, the zombie can't simply tear it (and its claws prevent it from using the buttons) so it pulls the whole thing off, which is why you don't see any remains of the blue jacket on the zombie's body. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.36.247.159 (talk) 03:21, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
Mutations
Just for reference, it's probably not accurate to describe the changes induced in a host by the headcrab as mutations (at least in the technical sense of the word). First of all, mutations are typically random, especially when introduced by a mutagen. Those caused by headcrabs seem very directed, causing the same effect in every host. Secondly, undirected changes are usually deleterious - it's far easier to break a complex machine by changing it than to improve it. Thirdly, changes to DNA (which is what mutations are) take a while to filter up to the organism level. In the game, the changes to the hosts are manifested within hours at most. Finally, it's not obvious how mutations to DNA can actually change the morphology of the host. In the real world, the effects of mutations that take place through the course of evolution are only felt in new offspring (which are constructed using the mutated DNA from scratch). Anyway, sorry for being a pedant, but it might be an idea to drop the reference to mutagens, and to put quotes around mutation so that it's clear we don't mean it in its technical sense. --Plumbago09:10, 2 October 2005 (UTC)
Speaking of morphological changes, the exceptionally-long digits of the zombies reminded me of the same changes manifested in people afflicted with arachnodactilia. CABAL03:53, 3 October 2005 (UTC)
Is there any reference as to how long it takes for the headcrab to turn its host into a victim? In the original HL, it's not clear how long he has been unconcious, but it can't be that long, as Eli Vance is still up in the control room. But in that short space of time, the headcrabs have completely taken over their hosts. In OpFor, different stages of headcrab takeover are seen in the affected corpses in the first-aid centre, one of which wakes up from the CAT scanner to attack a scientist. So it must happen quickly, but how quickly? Rusty200502:47, 30 October 2005 (UTC)
In HL2, end of Route Kanal, a shanty town is shelled with headcrabs, and minutes later, the place is overrun with zombies. So, the takeover of the host happens at a very, very fast rate, counted in minutes propably.--Mikael Grizzly22:00, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
Parasitics versus Parasites
The Combine actually refer to the headcrabs as parasitics, at least in two VO file, callcontactparasitics.wav and tagoneparasitic.wav, in the same why the refer to the zombies as necrotics. However, there is a VO file that uses parasites, wehavefreeparasites.wav, as well as a peculiar one, wehavenontaggedviromes.wav, which contains the line "We have non-tagged viromes". I rather prefer parasitic over parasite, since it matches more with zombie = necrotics.--YoungFreud01:00, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
Poison Zombie/ Headcrab blood?
simply the result of the game engine's limited capabilities, which are unable to distinguish between the headcrab and host, and thus are unable to assign each of the two creatures to emit different blood types. This is almost certainly not true, as according to http://hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2005-12-19 , the headcrab zombie ragdolls come in two parts- zombie and headcrab. This indicates that they're two different critters. Pope Guilty03:37, 3 January 2006 (UTC)
I'm fully aware of that. The passage, however, refers to the blood emitted when a bullet hits either the zombie or the headcrab, which is shown to have been yellow-green (with specks of red in HL2) from both the headcrab and the host in both HL and HL2. The original HL zombie and headcrab were featured as a single model, and thus was certainly only capable of emitting one blood color, but it's pretty much unknown why the HL2 zombie still emits the same blood type as a headcrab's, despite existing as a separate model from the parasite. Is it homage to the original HL zombie? Is the Source engine still unable to assign specific blood types to both models? Or is this simply an indication that the yellow blood was transfused from the headcrab or is the result of mutation after infestation? ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶11:24, 3 January 2006 (UTC) ╫
Unless this can be proven using the Source engine, that is. For now, the blood issue may imply that the engine is unable to handle this. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶16:23, 24 January 2006 (UTC) ╫
Well, this is just a theory based on the information here, but it seems to me that the fact that there are two ragdolls doesn't mean that there are two models used for a headcrab zombie. Since headcrabs can exist independantly from zombies, Valve needed an extra ragdoll anyway, and using it for the headcrab zombie allows the headcrab to abandon the zombie when its close to death, leaving a crabless corpse. 82.135.80.119 (talk) 19:11, 2 February 2008 (UTC)
Six appendages?
In the "Half-Life 2 headcrab variations" part it is mentioned that:
"While appearing similar to the original headcrab, both variations differ in a sense that they strictly use their four longer limbs for movement, attacking and standing, as opposed to six from the original headcrab."
Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but I only count 4 legs on infant and adult Headcrabs, Gonarch, and the HL2 variants. The animals of course have beaks (although I think the poisonous one doesn't, but I'd have to check), and some kind of pedipalp-like things in the front (best seen in regular HL2 crab and poisonous crab), but I don't see how those count as limbs, let alone how they would use them for movement. Thanks to anyone who can help clear this up! Retodon816:39, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
A headcrab walks in Half-Life
It's true that baby headcrabs walking (or rather run, like fast headcrabs) with four legs. But I noticed in both HL and HL2 that standard adult headcrabs lift their large frontal claws up, clear from the ground, while walking. This leaves only the frontal beaks, which may be used as additional limbs to help prevent the headcrab from falling to the front while walking forward using its back legs, or as static support (the headcrab may be a biped while walking and drags its beaks along the way); this is reinforced by the fact that most of the headcrab's body weight is distributed to the frontal portion of the body. I recall the claws functioning like limbs in HL2, but not in HL (it doesn't really move while the headcrab walks). Perhaps someone would like to rev up HL2 to clear things up. ╫ 25ring-a-ding20:00, 10 November 2005 (UTC) ╫
Ah, thanks for the image and explanation! I noticed that somewhat menacing way of walking in HL, similar to the stance some spiders take to scare people with arachnophobia. :) That is why I assume Valve animated them like that in the first place, which indeed would/might mean the crabs scrape their fronts along the ground, which sort of bugs me, as it doesn't seem logical. Still, it doesn't seem like they have any kind of movement with their beaks to help them walk. Actually although I've been playing HL2 lately, I have to admit I am not completely sure about how crabs walk in the sequel for some reason. I'll probably check later this evening. Retodon821:47, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
Well, I've checked out standard headcrabs in HL2 today and it does turn out that the beaks move like feet on the floor when the headcrabs walk; it does suggest that the beaks are being used as aids to walk. ╫ 25ring-a-ding19:13, 12 November 2005 (UTC) ╫
well if they use there beaks for walking or to help them walk then how does llamar mover since she has been "debeaked"?/ it brings up that question. Chardrc22:11, 17 December 2005 (UTC)
So far, we have only seen her use her larger claws and hind legs as support and movement, like a poison headcrab or fast headcrab; and we have only seen her jump, not walk. So it's possible that Lamaar has lost the capability to walk, or had experience difficulties walking, after she was debeaked. ╫ 25ring-a-ding10:40, 20 December 2005 (UTC) ╫
Correction, Lamaar is seen to walk normally in "A Red Letter Day". However, its a moot point, as a headcrab's "mouth" is on the underside of its body (take a close look at a dead one, or the model itself). Those stubby forelimb-type things are not part of its eating mechanics whatsoever, though they may be useful in clamping onto a host. A "de-beak" headcrab would still have all 6 of its legs, as Lamaar does.---Jackel17:48, 20 December 2005 (UTC)
Ah, thanks for clarifying the part on Lamarr walking. I must have missed out the part where Lamarr had done that between the time she attacked Barney and jumped up the locker. I haven't been playing the game often enough to recall this very well, and I certainly forgotten which set of frontal "beaks" were cut short; I used to rely on two model shots of a normal headcrab and Lamarr to know, at least, that something at Lamaar's front was shortened. If someone could upload these images up ImageShack and show them here, it would mostly help clear things up. ╫ 25ring-a-ding07:16, 21 December 2005 (UTC) ╫
Gonome
How about an image of a Gonome? Since we've got image of all variations of headcrabs, you could had an image of the zombie's "evolution". Besides, people who never played Op4 won't know how it is like.
A section on zombies
A Gonome
I thought I could hold this shot until month's end, but here is the image anyway. I also have screenshots for the fast and poison zombie, but there doesn't seem to be a suitable space for both images. Perhaps we should dedicate a section on the zombies and include a gallery? ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶14:11, 21 March 2006 (UTC) ╫
Hmm, I asked for the gonome but didn't remember about those two... I dunno, I think the section about headcrabs its good, but also that we should had the images for the fast and poison zombies. If the headcrabs have the right, I suppose the zombies should have too...
Inconsistancy
should it perhaps be mentioned that while within in a matter of hours after headcrab infestation, the Gonome has made an appearance at Black Mesa, no Gonomes have appeared in Ravenholm, even after a period of days or possibly weeks? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 20.7.102.200 (talk) 18:30, 9 May 2007 (UTC).
May I clarify that the following phrases also have questionable verifiability:
Even while not reversed, listening closely in Half-life 2, some players have been able to make out yells of "Get it off me!". Also, not only reversing but tuning the sound higher reveals a voice similar to the grunt in the games Halo or Halo 2.
As much as I have attempted, some recordings do yield phrases of "GOD, HELP ME" if played backwards though. Other than that, the abovementioned of speculation may be based on personal view, unless Valve is able to mention otherwise. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶13:38, 21 April 2006 (UTC) ╫
Speaking of which, can anyone make out what the zombines say? I'm hard of hearing, and I have a little more trouble understanding them than I do the regular zombies. though zombine_alert2.wav sounds like he's saying "interest...ing..." 216.68.209.18907:07, 13 June 2006 (UTC)dethtoll
Wow. That has to be the most warped thing in a game since System Shock 2's half-possessed zombies. The mechanical parts of the Zombines seem to be still trying to issue commands and alerts while the human parts have been subverted by the headcrab. 72.49.248.11422:38, 24 July 2006 (UTC)dethtoll
after reading this i listened to the zombie moan loops in reverse, i can confirm that i heard "god help" and "help me" - anon
I think that hearing moans, reversed cries of "god help me" and the like, doesn't mean that the zombie retains its toughts unchanged, etc, as stated in the article. If a creature were to physically attach itself to a human's brain forcefully to control its motor functions, there would necessarily be irreversible damage to many other areas of the brain, causing at least some form of dementia. This kind of behavior of zombies seems to me like "automatic" triggering of reflexes or at most "stereotypical" repetition of the victim's last thoughts before transformation. It reminds me of [Pseudobulbar affect], a condition where brainstem damage causes inability to control display of emotions (usually crying spontaneously), as crying (not just tears, but all the expression of sadness) is a (very elaborate) reflex executed by the facial muscles (controlled by the facial nerve and other cranial nerves). It could be incontrolable and disorderly repetition of thoughts because of temporal lobe damage. Also, we don't know if the zombie has any conscience of anything.--201.214.0.16523:03, 25 December 2006 (UTC)user:guruclef
I disagree with that, as I have noticed a very strong tendancy for the host to scream in pain (as well as cry help me) when I light standard Zombies on fire (not so sure about other types), so there's some reaction in there. I have also heard "get it off me" from several normal zombies (all though this could indeed be a phantom recurring thought), but the fire scream signals that something on the zombie has speech control. Possibly even the headcrab?--Techercizer (talk) 19:24, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
I personally think it would be much creepier to have the zombies coming at you intelligibly screaming for help than just having them moan and growl. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.193.118.167 (talk) 02:36, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
Popularity
Due to their somewhat iconic place in the Half-Life universe, devoted fans of the headcrabs have made their own cloth construction plans available for those with some sewing expertise. Should there be any mention of the recently released headcrab plush toy? I'm not a shill for Valve, I just think that the sheer popularity of the headcrab in culture may need some referencing (namely the toy).
Sounds good to me, I just got one and it's great. Add to the article something like:
Due to the popularity of the headcrab, on [date] Valve released a 1/4 scale plush toy of a headcrab, as what seems to be the first of a series called "Half-Life 2: Critters."
On a related note, the tag on the plush spells the word "Head-Crab" with a hyphen. Do we know for sure that the official spelling is non-hyphenated? --Tommy Gun10:11, 14 May 2006 (UTC)
.I saw a e-mail answered my Marc Laidlaw that may explain the origins of poison headcrabs and how they came to existence. here is the link:
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1581445&postcount=825
Im not sure if it would count as cannon as this wasnt mentioned openly in the game. I personally always assumed that the Combine, after discowering regular headcrabs on Xen or Earth, had modified them and released them via the headcrab shells around the world.
Half Life 2 crabs
I swear the Headcrab goes through various changes from different stages. There are 3 stages.
It's more likely that the Combine genetically engineered the headcrabs to perform differently during warfare. That theory isn't confirmed either, unfortunately. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Druckles (talk • contribs) 18:06, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
Swimming!
This might be worth noting: Occasionally you might have a chance to see a headcrab land in the water, if he's lept at you and you dodged. While normal headcrabs and fast headcrabs don't do well and eventually drown, the poison headcrab is actually able to swim around like an octopus or a squid for a few seconds before drowning. (Which somehow only adds to its creepiness.) It's unknown if it can actually launch itself out of water, but I doubt it. 216.68.209.18918:50, 13 June 2006 (UTC)dethtoll.
I think it can do that because its health is higher than the others, so it flops about for a bit longer before succumbing.
Yes, but it doesn't actually flop around. It actually seems to be able to SWIM in the water, like an octopus or a squid. The other two varieties just thrash around and die.
Check the Model Viewer. There IS a... really creepy swimming animation that was made to last a couple seconds while with the other headcrabs there is just a thrashing motion. Don't know if they actually travel throughout the water, though. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.196.115.179 (talk) 00:25, 10 May 2007 (UTC).
one could easily set up a swimming expiriment in garry's mod. It is a third party mod which uses the same physics and models. You can even increase a head crabs life span to observe it more in depth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.40.112.172 (talk) 00:02, 7 January 2008 (UTC)
Article overhaul
I made an overhaul of the article. Organised it by species rather than game and changed around some stuff as well as adding relevant (and removing irrelevant) information. Cleaning up anything I made a mistake on would be appreciated. --Rim-Fire20:49, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
The new arrange is not all too favorable to me, as the merge has made each section far too long to read with ease and made it difficult to locate specific info, and clumped sections on both the zombies and headcrabs in line as if they are very similar creatures, when their physiology and behaviors are too different. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶12:39, 28 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
I think the only part that's really too long is the Headcrab Zombie part. I know the re-arrangement isn't the neatest article ever but it just makes more sense to arrange them by variety than by game in my opinion. --Rim-Fire12:43, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
You have removed a lot of information, and most of the rewording is weaker than the original article's in general. Some blatantly incorrect information has been added (Headcrabs do not attack bullsquids, for example). Some baseless speculation as well (We have no idea if headcrabs prey on chumtoads since chumtoads have only officially apeared in one game, and never in contact with other Xen creatures). I would be in favor or reverting back to the former article. MarphyBlack13:12, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
I'm more compelled to compare the previous and current versions and "merge" both versions together, discarding incorrect information if needed (the headcrab has been seen pouncing from burrowed ground in the first Half-Life, contrary to what the current version suggests), as there appears to be some reasonable changes in the new version. I still have a problem with the lengthy sections: the current setup makes editing and information location difficult. I also believe that a distinction between the HL-HL2 variations have to be stressed (the later versions did not appear to be part of Half-Life initially, and it remains to be seen if they were native to Xen to be classified alongside vanilla headcrabs, as I would now like to call them. :P) ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶17:36, 28 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
What I really don't like about this overhaul, aside from the incorrect information, is, like you said, its poor structure. HL1 and HL2 information is entirely mixed and thrown in together quite confusingly. Perhaps there might be some useful changes included somewhere here, but to be honest, I think it would better to take what useful information we can from this version, revert to the older version, and stick the information back there. Just a quick overview of this revision shows that there's just too much wrong with it:
This article states that headcrabs are the only to feature in every Half-Life game. This is resoundingly untrue. Vortigaunts most certainly appear in every single Half-Life game, and I'm sure that barnacles are in most, if not every (I'd have to check Decay again) Half-Life game.
Headcrabs aren't necessarily the first enemy fought. The player sees Vortigaunts and bullsquids before headcrabs, but at that point without a weapon. Upon acquiring the first weapon, the crowbar, the next actual enemy the player encounters is a headcrab zombie, not the headcrab itself. Although, the player could return to a previous room to kill a headcrab that teleported in there. However, I think this is all irrelevant as it doesn't matter whether the headcrab is the first enemy the player fights or not. It's more of a pointless observation as the headcrab being the first enemy fought wouldn't any significant value at all. The old introduction didn't make any such claim.
The text from the image caption on the first headcrab image is copied verbatim into the article. That seems really pointless.
As you pointed out, headcrabs are seen in burrowed mounds in the original Half-Life. This behavior did not originate in Half-Life 2.
As I said before, headcrabs don't attack bullsquids, contrary to what the article says.
The information regarding chumtoads being normal prey for headcrabs is totally made up.
Fast headcrabs being born "from a gonarch or a special fast gonarch" is also definitely made up. Although I'd sure like to see what a supposed Fast Gonarch might look like, there's absolutely zero evidence to support such a wild theory.
More speculation on how Fast Zombies eat, and how the Combine did something to make them starve or something.
Confusing placement of the Fast Zombie/Poison Zombie picture.
Something about Poison Zombies breeding. Maybe it was just awkwardly worded, but that's what I got out of it, and it doesn't bring up a pretty mental image.
Lamarr is never called "Heady", only by her actual name, "Hedy".
It seems like a lot of information on the Zombine is missing, or it's all just scattered through the article in a random fashion. It's hard to tell.
And, what makes this whole issue personal to me, the one sentence I added to the Gonome paragraph saying that they could create their own lair or nest was removed. This is a completely verifiable fact from an official source, and it explains what, exactly, you find the Gonomes living in when you first encounter them in Opposing Force.
Anyway, to reiterate, I think the best course we could take would be to revert back to the original article and salvage what little things we can from this revision. MarphyBlack18:36, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
Seems a little late, but a revision of the article has been included in my sandbox. I took to the liberty of renaming sections on Half-Life 2 variations headcrabs and zombies to specific names of the creatures. The sandbox revision also lacks some legitimately needless speculation removed in the current revision. You may like to see if there are any corrections needed before this writing is delivered back to this article (or perhaps an alternative is better?). ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶18:57, 28 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
I, personally, think your revision is about as good as it can possibly be, and am very much in favor of putting it up as soon as possible. Someone just added several more pictures to the this version of the article, and while I'm sure that person was acting in good faith, D: MarphyBlack20:55, 29 June 2006 (UTC)
I agree with every point MarphyBlack makes, except the last one. When exactly in Opposing Force or any other instance are gonomes seen to be "creating a nest or lair" or doing anything other than attacking the player?? At any rate, I endorse an effort to clean up this bloated article, but the last attempt did seem too severe.---Jackel20:35, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
The very first encounter with the Gonome in Opposing Force is during the underground portion with all the fiery tubes you have to run past/through. When you see the first Gonome, he appears to be standing near some sort of organic material on the ground. This is an example of a lair or "nest" I was referring too. However, in the very next room where there are multiple Gonomes (The place where you have to push the explosive box in front of the test fire beam), it appears that they've created a lair that covers the entire corner of the room. There are even Xen lights and plants there. The official OpFor strategy guide calls this as a "Gonome nest" in the walkthrough. Gonomes are also described as being able to create lairs in the enemy description part of the guide. MarphyBlack20:54, 29 June 2006 (UTC)
I'm rewording a certain sentence so that the glaring Citation Needed warning is no longer necessary. Specifically: "To further add to their fearsome nature, the dorsal markings of the Poison Headcrab are modelled on a species of orb-weaving spider, Araneus diadematus." modelled on is now similar to that of a. I also added a link to the page of the spider in question, for the reader's convenient comparison. 216.68.209.18905:00, 29 June 2006 (UTC)dethtoll
I have changed the article to ZS's revision. I think it looks much nicer now, so much praise to ZS for his work. MarphyBlack22:47, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
GMod screenshots
I have a few objections regarding some of the GMod "white room" screenshots. Firstly, there is no need to include repeated instances of the same creature if there is already one in the article (specifically, those of the vanilla headcrab and headcrab zombie; the latter is apparently removed after it was included) as a comparison between the HL rendition and the HL2 rendition.
Secondly, while those of the poison and fast headcrabs are reasonable enough as replacements, the zombies are suspected of using user-made high-res textures (consider a comparison of the poison headcrab's markings here and here). There is consensus that such images are misleading readers because it doesn't reflect the appearance of a character or NPC in an unmodified version of Half-Life 2. Thus, I've returned the previous version until images for two proper original models are available. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶16:05, 3 July 2006 (UTC) ╫
Barnacle consumption of headcrabs/headcrab zombies
I have moved in the following paragraph from #Zombine:
A barnacle's response upon capture of a Zombine is also worthy of mention: While the body of an unaffected Overwatch soldier or other varieties of headcrab zombies would be completely consumed by the creature, the barnacle will only consume the headcrab of a Zombine and discard the rest of the zombie's body, like other inedible objects. This suggests that a headcrab's infestation on a Combine soldier would render the host body unsuitable for barnacle consumption.
This is based on the revelation that that standard Half-Life 2 zombies (including the headcrab) are apparently inedible to a barnacle, contradicting the excerpt; this would also contradict the barnacle's preference to consume a Zombine's headcrab. However, to complete the verification, it would be a good idea that someone experiment with all lone headcrabs, a fast zombie and poison zombie, as well as the original headcrab and zombie from the first Half-Life. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶19:35, 19 October 2006 (UTC) ╫
Host Attachment/Takeover
I wanted to make a comment on how the headcrab most likely takes control of the host. I believe that the Headcrab's "beaks" are used to not puncture through the skull, but through the eye sockets because it offers the least resistance, disables the host further so their will is further broken to fight back, and it's the fastest path to the brain. And because that, it's a whole lot easier than cutting through the cap of the skull
Looking at a host when the headcrab detaches from it, you see that were the eyes are suppose to be, are just black and what looks like a bloody stream coming from them. Also the headcrab host's head is looking directly up which also correlates with the theory that the headcrab uses it's mouth to force it's victim’s head upwards to then use the "beaks" to cut through the eyeballs and access the brain.
It also makes sense with the Zombine because instead of cutting through the helmet, the headcrab goes through the goggles (Made of type of plastic or glass) And access the what is left of the nervous system through the means mention above. As for what happens to the helment, perhaps the headcrab pulls it off and discards it (similar to a shelling) while the Combine is disoriented and then reattaches itself.
It's kind of unlikely that's the mechanism that the headcrab uses. To reach the motor cortex from the optic chasm would likely cause fatal damage to the brain, rendering the host useless. I'd hypothesize it uses a proboscis to accomplish this rather than blunt force. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 130.215.238.133 (talk) 19:59, 14 January 2007 (UTC).
Actually, seeing as Zombine don't have a head I think it's more probable that the headcrab doesn't even use the host's brain at all. Zombies are notoriously stupid and the way they lumber forward would suggest to me that the headcrab is the "brain" of the creature now. I believe the beaks simply kill the host and then gain access to the nervous system. This also explains the moans and groans of a zombie as the headcrab simply can't control the involuntary actions of the body! Henners9111:51, 22 April 2007 (UTC)
I agree with Henner, the random, uncontrolled screaming and moaning sounds more like random nerve action than the host still being alive. Besides, the blood loss and severe tramua to the host's mid-section is well beyond human survivability. Look at the fast zombies; they're little more than a skeleton with some muscles on it. The host is clearly dead by the time they are taken over. I think we should change the article to reflect this theory, as the host remaining alive has never been explicitly stated. PowderedToastMan05:57, 17 October 2007 (UTC)
Yes, but it is widely accepted that Fast and Poison headcrabs are genetically engineered by the Combine, rendering the hosts dead. That and I believe VALVe said somewhere that the host is infact still alive. And for all we know, the combine soldiers may not even have brains, just circuits and a human body. 71.87.191.243 (talk) 08:40, 22 December 2007 (UTC)Hobbes1098
Added biology section...
I added a section on the headcrab's probable biology, including it's employment of a retrovirus to cause the physiological and morphological changes seen in the host. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 130.215.238.133 (talk) 19:56, 14 January 2007 (UTC).
About the Zombine's lack of a head and helmet
The theories surrounding this one little oddity has grown far too large. The official Prima strategy guide for Episode One indicates that the lack of a head is supposed to be an intentional mystery. Obviously fans can come up with their own ideas, but that sort of speculation doesn't belong here. This really doesn't deserve its own subsection in the article. MarphyBlack22:50, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
Just cut this down to only the fact that there is no skull. Leave the rest to the fans to decide. Any discussion that is not derived from a reliable and notable citation is not worth mentioning. ╫ ２５◀RingADing▶15:48, 23 February 2007 (UTC) ╫
Possible improvement
There is a paragraph stating "Headcrabs also have a mottled tan-coloured skin and reddish legs (although this may simply be blood coloration)." The blood coloration theory seems unlikely to me, as a headcrab, being parasitic in nature, would ideally make whatever it latches on to (hence, blood coloration) a zombie. Shall we change the sentence, or leave it as is? Tockeg21:53, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
What happened to the headcrab zombie scream sound file?
This is most likely wrong as I did not own a copy of the game at the time; but did the original HL2 zombie survive when the crab was killed? (I mean unpatched HL2 by the way). Henners9107:29, 19 April 2007 (UTC)
Merchandise
As has been mentioned above, the headcrab is considered symbolic of the Half-Life franchise. Should there be a section on the merchandise Valve has created? (The headcrab beanie, the headcrab hat?). I'll try when I get home and if it gets deleted then I have no problem (just give a good reason!)! Henners9107:13, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
The article states that headcrab hosts still remain conscious while being possessed.
I don´t think that this is true, because:
a headcrab controls the victim´s motor cortex, so the human should be unable to scream
a zombie´s moan often sounds more like an angry growl than a painful scream
a zombie will only moan if it detects prey, but a conscious human would scream all the time
if the moan is played backwards, one can hear screams for help. So what? Since human beings usually don´t speak - let alone scream - backwards, that´s not a prove for consciousness
Well, the headcrabs are messing around in the brain, it might make speech go backwards. My cousin used to always write backwards.
Not a user, and I dunno what day it is, but it's June '07. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 211.30.195.17 (talk • contribs).
Actually, playing the sound backwards is just a myth, you can understand fine without doing so. ~Hobbes1098
I'd like to comment on this also. It seems more likely to me that the hosts are dead for a different reason. If they were alive, considering Alex's discomfort around the stalkers (in HL2 Episode 1), she would probably feel similarly about the zombies. Instead she seems to enjoy killing them. Karsaroth (talk) 03:49, 21 January 2008 (UTC)
It definatly seems likly that something is controlling speech, Human or Crab, as zombies almost always scream when lit on fire (including the frequent "help me"). Is it possible that the crab could take over the speech functions (having it's mouth otherwise occupied)?--Techercizer (talk) 19:44, 13 May 2008 (UTC)
Discontinued headcrab products?
I don't see stuffed animal headcrabs or HedyHats in the Valve store but I know they used to be there. They had a little caption that said *Valve guy not included* and had a picture of the HedyHat on a valve representative and i think they had a plain old picture of a S.A. headcrab
PS, just to save room...are headcrabs blind? They have no eyes....
Indeed, the headcrab products appear to be out of stock. As for the eyes of a headcrab, they do have visible eyes in HL1 (More easily visible on the HD Pack models), but the eyes appear to be missing/harder to see in their HL2 incarnation. I don't have the model viewer handy so I can't check it at this moment, but headcrabs aren't supposed to be blind. MarphyBlack03:22, 13 June 2007 (UTC)
Headcrabs as Human Food
The article has this quote: "Headcrabs are also hinted in Half-Life 2: Episode One to be consumed by humans, who comment that "they don't taste like crab"," but during the "Black Mesa East" level of Half Life 2, when going down the elevator with Mossman, you can look into the kitchen and see a vortigaunt chopping a headcrab on a cutting board, with a few more in a pot next to him. While this could simply imply the headcrabs are being made exclusively for the vortigaunt population of the lab, it lends itself more to the notion that humans eat the crabs as well.
Gonomes and Headcrabs
In HL1, I've noticed, The zombies have giant mouths, and the Gonomes are more brown and fleshy. They seem to be turning into giant headcrabs, maybe like that "Gonarch" Headcrab, and Gonome is a lot like Gonarch when you think about it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 211.30.195.17 (talk • contribs).
Interesting observation, but not really likely, though. Aside from the lack of humans in Xen (the headcrab zombification of other species never having been depicted) which could account for the gonarchs there, it's implied that headcrabs grow directly into a gonarch from birth. The baby headcrabs have a visible sac under their bodies identical to Big Momma's, the main connection for the evolution. MarphyBlack12:42, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
AKA
I haven't double checked this but resistance fighters have their own name for headcrabs, I believe it was head hoppers, it needs double checking though because i'm possibly confusing things with hopper mines. What I do remember is leading my squad into a room of headcrabs and one of the female resistance members alerting me to them and i'm pretty sure she said head hoppers. Perhaps someone can check the sound files or given time I'll check. 84.43.106.3113:57, 19 July 2007 (UTC)
I was Reading though HL2 stuff and found these two
<headcrab page>
"It is interesting to note that the removal of a Zombine's headcrab reveals that, aside from the lower jaw and small lower portion of skull, no head or helmet remains on the soldier's corpse. The official Prima strategy guide for Episode One indicates that the lack of a head is meant to be an intentional mystery."
<barnacle page>
"...after capturing a Zombine, the barnacle will only eat the attached headcrab, while the beheaded body is dropped."
So its not an "intentional mystery", but something else. Such as the barnacle eating the headcrab and most of the zombine's head and spitring out the rest.
That might make sense if being eaten by a barnacle was the only way a zombine could die, which it isn't, of course. So a barnacle eating most of the head isn't it. 82.135.80.119 (talk) 23:07, 2 February 2008 (UTC)
Do you see the scull?
How should I understand this? "there is no animation showing a headcrab zombie with the entire skullcap missing, so it is assumed that the headcrab does not actually take off the skull covering"
Look at the photo of the headcrab zombie from HL1. The countours of the scientist's scull are seen through the headcrabs body. It seems like the headcrab first cut whole the face of the (former) scientist (including his nose, eyes, everything!!!), and then sucked the skull. Thus, because of the vacuum between the headcrab and the scull, we can see the silhouette of the scull beneath the headcrab's body. (Although otherwise headcrabs' bodies look quite squat and meaty(we should ask the All-Knowing Vortigaunt if they are tasty,hehe).) So, I think that the headcrabs REMOVE the flesh of their victims' heads (or at least the faces). What do you think? I would like to edit this statement, but I first ask you, because I'm not sure if I should make this edit or not. 77.70.30.21623:14, 28 September 2007 (UTC)
Autogun vs. Zombine
I invite other players to go back to the portion of Episode Two involving the Combine autogun. I found it to be an effective means of disposing of regular zombies and headcrabs, by drawing them into the line of fire, but also noticed that the autogun does NOT appear to fire on any Zombine. Should this be noted in the article? Diwen11:07, 18 October 2007 (UTC)
I think that's more of a reflection on the way the autogun detects targets. Maybe it uses some kind of transmitter in the combine soldier's body or suit, or maybe it sees what's left of the suit and decides that the thing approaching is friendly. In any case, it's not really relevant to the headcrabs. 134.117.174.20402:13, 7 November 2007 (UTC)
I can confirm this. The Autogun doe NOT fire on Combine Zombies. And even if it shoots the Zombine, it doesn't appear to do any damage. Mr. Someguy (talk) 21:38, 10 April 2009 (UTC)
Yeah, that's what I was talking about - headcrabs remove the flesh of their victims' heads. And your picture proves this theory :) 77.70.30.21620:09, 2 November 2007 (UTC)
I removed the following from the section on zombines for a few reasons. First it smells a bit like original research, and there's no source. Second I'm pretty sure what's demonstrated is not irony. It's an interesting point to make, but needs to be rewritten slightly and sourced properly. Anyway here's the quote:
A degree of irony surrounds zombines seeing as the combine evolve by intergrating themselves with the dominant species on a planet, in Earth's case homo sapiens, and on the other hand headcrabs intergrate themselves with the combine to create a zombine.
Not a big deal, but this article only states that it's likely that Lamarr got launched with the rocket. Given the evidence, I think it's about as certain as you can get. Sealing the hatch + the 8.5 over payload verifies, especially given Valve's aptitude for keeping everything meaningful in some way. I won't change it, but it seems reasonable to at least change the phrasing to reflect that the default view is that Lamarr was launched. 207.214.83.3807:45, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
I saw Lamarr go into the rocket. --MettanAtem 21:53, 29 July 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by MettanAtem (talk • contribs)
I have removed the reference to the gnome. Kleiner makes the remark whether or not you put the gnome in! Lamarr is in the rocket, end of. Mezigue (talk) 08:46, 20 August 2008 (UTC)
Image:HL2Fastcrab.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
Image:HL2Poisoncrab.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
Image:Zombine2.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
Shouldn't there be a section on the Gonarch and baby headcrabs?
The Gonarch is the final life phase of the headcrab and the fact that she gives birth to the headcrabs should say something. Also the baby headcrabs she spawns which are much smaller and translucent should be there too. I would be willing to write it up (or merge the section already devoted to it), if nobody objects to me writing about it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.107.95.52 (talk) 21:02, 13 November 2008 (UTC)
Fast Zombie Torso.
"In Half Life 2, when a fast zombie is cut in half, the torso is missing its right arm, and its left hand appears to have 2 spikes rather than normal claws. This minor error is fixed in Episode 1."
I have 2 pictures I took with the Half Life Model Viewer depicting the differences of the 2. If anyone wants to make a comparison picture feel free. Pictures are here:
Almost all of the article is dedicated to describing the (rather detailed) characteristics of headcrabs in the Half-Life games, with practically only the 'Reception' section having a non-fictional perspective. The other sections are filled with overly specific features of their behavior (like how they sound or the process in which they attach themselves to a human) and there isn't much info about anything else. I'm adding an in-universe template for now. Merlinsorca04:53, 27 September 2011 (UTC)
Reception
I am not sure this section deserves staying. At the moment it contains only two articles of the sort used to fill websites, i.e. random lists of things off the journalist's head rather than reviews or polls... Mezigue (talk) 09:49, 7 July 2012 (UTC)
Cleaning up "In video games" section
I'm going to go about cleaning up the "In video games" section and separate it into "Attributes" and "Appearances", based on the format of the Vortigaunt page. I'll leave the previous version here should anyone wish to re-add or rewrite specific parts of it in the future.
== In video games ==
Headcrabs are parasitic lifeforms roughly {{convert|2|ft|m}} long.<ref>The description for the [[plush]] headcrab collectible item indicates that the six-inch toy is quarter-scale, meaning that a normal-sized headcrab is typically two feet in length.</ref> Headcrabs have rounded bodies with four legs for movement: two long clawed legs at the front and two stubby legs at the back. Their pair of large frontal claws are for attacking prey, and as additional support when standing still. Under the headcrab's body is a large rounded mouth surrounded by mangled, rigid flesh with sharp claw-like beaks.
The design of the headcrab changes between ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'' and ''[[Half-Life 2]]''. ''Half-Life'' headcrabs have exposed teeth and intestines at their mouth, while the ''Half-Life 2'' version does not. As such, it is initially apparent that the headcrab only walks with its large front claws and hind legs, while the stubby legs form part of the headcrab's mouth. The headcrabs found in ''Half-Life'' are also noticeably smaller than those in ''Half-Life 2'', which have bodies approximately the size of a [[watermelon]]. ''Half-Life'' and ''Half-Life 2'' also oppositely depict the headcrab's tolerance to water and toxins: headcrabs in ''Half-Life'' can swim in water but die in toxic environments, while headcrabs in ''Half-Life 2'' drown within seconds in deep water but easily survive in contaminated pools.
Physically, headcrabs are fairly frail, a few bullets or a single strike from the player's melee weapon being sufficient to dispatch them. They are also relatively slow-moving and their attacks inflict very little damage. However, they can leap surprising distances and heights to catch their prey. Headcrabs seek out larger human hosts, which are converted into [[zombie]]-like mutants that attack any living thing they can find. The converted humans are far more resilient than an ordinary human would be and inherit the headcrab's resilience toward toxic and radioactive materials. Headcrabs and/or Headcrab zombies die slowly when they catch fire. The games also establish that while headcrabs are parasites that prey on humans, they are also the prey of the creatures of their homeworld. [[Bullsquid]]s, [[vortigaunt]]s, [[Barnacle (Half-Life)|barnacles]] and [[Antlion (Half-Life 2)|antlions]] will all eat headcrabs and vortigaunts can be seen cooking them on several occasions.
Headcrabs are often found in dark areas, usually lying in wait in dark corners and [[Ventilation (architecture)|ventilation shafts]]. In more open environments, headcrabs bury themselves in the ground to hide, then climb out to the surface and attack when a victim draws near. Headcrabs are often seen clustered in groups to make up for their individual weakness. They pursue their prey with single-minded determination, never fleeing despite the death of fellow headcrabs or any other dangers. Conversely, however, headcrabs attached to a human may abandon their host should it be severely wounded.
Headcrabs can produce a variety of vocalizations. When they are not hunting, headcrabs usually emit squeaks and fairly quiet, repetitive calls while gently swaying their bodies back and forth until they have sight of a host. When attacking, headcrabs emit a sharp, shrill shriek as they leap toward their victims.
While the original ''Half-Life'' has only one type of headcrab (not counting the Baby Headcrab), identified by its mottled tan-colored skin and reddish legs, ''Half-Life 2'' introduces two more versions, the fast headcrab and the poison headcrab. These versions are more dangerous than their ordinary counterparts:
The '''fast headcrab''' is a faster, more spider-like version of the ordinary headcrab. Its skin is slightly lighter, and it has long, spider-like legs that allow it to move much faster and climb on walls (first demonstrated in Half-Life 2 in [[Ravenholm]]). It does not have a beak like the other varieties, instead using the sharp talons at the ends of its legs to latch to hosts. The zombies it creates are stripped of most of their flesh and muscle and, like the headcrab itself, are much faster than ordinary zombies. It also makes the same shriek that their standard cousins make.
The '''poison headcrab''' (also known as the black headcrab or venomous headcrab) is slightly larger than its counterparts with dark sage-green-colored skin and thick hairs on the joints of its inward-bending legs. To distinguish it further, it has white bands that encircle its knee joints, wider legs, and a more flattened body, giving it a generally more crab-like appearance. It also makes a chirp at range and a hissing-rattling similar to that of a [[rattlesnake]]'s tail when it detects a viable host. Immediately before pouncing, they emit a loud, distinctive shriek. There is also a whipping noise as they pounce. Unlike the other headcrabs, the poisonous headcrab has some survival instinct, as it will retreat when injured. Although it is the slowest-moving version of the headcrab when calm, it can outpace an ordinary headcrab when retreating. Another difference is that the poison headcrab takes a longer time to incinerate than the other types. Poison headcrabs get their name from the [[neurotoxin]] they carry, which reduces the player's [[Health (gaming)|health]] to one point instantly on contact, meaning that minimal additional damage can easily kill the player. Gordon's HEV suit provides an antidote that will restore the missing health over a short period, minus the damage caused by the attack itself. While this makes the poisonous headcrab unable to fully kill Gordon, it can make survival much more problematic if other enemies are present. ''Half-Life 2: Raising The Bar'' notes that play-testers would prioritize poison headcrabs as targets, regardless of any other present dangers. They will group together on a single host once one is found: the attacking poison headcrab controls the host, while the others use the new host as transportation, having it throw up their eggs(if female) at new victims.
A headcrab's primary goal is to attach to the head of a suitable [[host (biology)|host]] using its mouth (typically covering the face and most of the head). The headcrab then burrows its claws and hind legs into the host and opens up portions of the skull with its mouth, incorporating parts of its biological workings with the motor cortex of the host's nervous system. The victim is thus taken over by the headcrab and mutated into a mindless [[zombie]]-like being known as a '''headcrab zombie''', referred to as a "necrotic" by the Combine Overwatch. The host lies dead for a while then rises and attacks any living species.
The headcrab's alien [[physiology]] causes various [[mutation]]s in its host, giving it massively oversized claws, increased strength and what appears to be a sharp-toothed "mouth" that bisects the victim's chest cavity from neck to groin. In ''Half-Life 2'', their appearance is slightly different; the "teeth" of the mouth are clearly revealed as protruding ribs: a ripped open chest cavity and no [[sternum]]. In ''Half-Life'', zombies can be seen tearing flesh from corpses and feeding it into their "mouth". The Headcrab stays attached to the zombie even when the zombie dies. In ''Half-Life 2'', headcrab zombies are capable of surviving even if they are severed at the torso, simply dragging themselves along the ground with their arms. Headcrab zombies signal their presence through various muffled groans and grunts, sometimes mixed with agonized screams. The Headcrab dies with the zombie if the player aims for the head.
Like standard headcrabs, both fast headcrabs and poison headcrabs are capable of attaching to a host's head, although these headcrabs induce different forms of mutations on their hosts and the resulting zombies employ different strategies of attack. An unusual characteristic of both zombie variations is that only three middle fingers of the five on each zombie's hands develop into claws, compared to all the fingers on a standard headcrab zombie. In addition, neither two variants have a describable "maw" nor the chest cavity that normal headcrab zombies possess, although fast zombies do have cracked rib cages and seemingly no internal organs, creating a hollow space.
Blasting the headcrab off any zombie type will reveal that the person's head has been bent back abnormally, and regardless of type, the zombie's mouth is open in a frozen scream. This, coupled with the muffled pleas and screams emitted by the zombie, indicates that the zombie is (at least partially, but most likely fully) aware of their state, but powerless to fight the impulses from the Headcrab, and presumably in constant and unimaginable pain.
When a standard headcrab successfully attaches to a host, the host becomes a standard headcrab zombie. The torso of the host is open and the organs can be seen. In ''Half-Life 1'' the player can see the texture of the host's skull on the headcrab. However, this is removed in other installments. They are slow-moving but powerful, using their claws to beat their victims to death. They moan almost constantly, and growl when they detect prey. In ''Half-Life 2'', they can swat loose objects when they run into them, creating potentially lethal projectiles. ''Half-Life 2'' also introduced still-moving zombies which are severed at the waist and crawl toward the player using their arms. The hosts are left alive during the mutation, being left entirely aware of their horrific situation. The host body is in an unconscious state immediately after infestation, and after a while, rise to attack.
The genome is apparently the next step of a standard headcrab zombie's mutation. It is larger, stronger, much faster and more intelligent than "ordinary" zombies; it also produces a stomach acid that the creature can retrieve from its chest "maw" and throw as a weapon. Gonomes appear only in the [[expansion pack]] ''[[Half-Life: Opposing Force]]'', which was created by Gearbox rather than Valve.
When a fast headcrab attaches to a host, it produces a fast headcrab zombie. These zombies are stripped of their outer skin, some [[biological tissue|body tissue]], and most or all [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]], leaving large parts of the victim's [[human skeleton|skeleton]] exposed. Fast headcrab zombies can run at great speeds and have the unique ability to jump and rapidly climb rain gutters. They also move on all four limbs, but stand on two legs when attacking a victim. Fast zombies betray their presence with several vocalizations. In ''Half-Life 2: Episode Two'', a fast zombie can be seen jumping on the front of the players vehicle, and melee attacking until Alyx Vance kicks it off. Despite their speed and physique, fast zombies are much weaker than ordinary zombies in terms of damage they inflict, though they have the same health as standard zombies. In ''Episode Two'', fast zombies also come in a torso-only variant.
Poison headcrabs produce the poison headcrab zombie - a bloated, reddish/purplish, slow-moving and hunched-over "carrier" for several more poison headcrabs. A fully loaded zombie of this type carries four headcrabs, including the host's controller. It is the strongest and most resilient form of headcrab zombie in terms of damage capability and overall health (it takes three crossbow shots just to kill one poison headcrab zombie, but only one to kill an Overwatch soldier) - but also the slowest. A poison zombie reveals its presence with its distinctive, strangled, heavy breathing and muffled moans. Like other zombies, it tries to beat its prey to death, but its most dangerous weapon is the extra poison headcrabs it carries, which it can throw at the player.
''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]'' introduces the zombine, a variation on the regular headcrab zombie created from "former" Combine Overwatch soldiers. [[Alyx Vance]] coins the term "zombine" for them as a [[portmanteau]] of "zombie" and "Combine". The introduction of the zombine enemy was meant to indicate that, in the wake of the devastation caused by the player in ''Half-Life 2'', what was once a valuable weapon in the Combine arsenal is now just as dangerous to them as it is to regular humans.<ref name="Devcomlowlife">''Half-Life 2: Episode One'', Chapter III: Lowlife, Developers commentary [2006]</ref>
A zombine can be identified by the distinct Combine armor it wears, as well as its electronically-filtered moans occasionally mixed with Combine soldier reports, such as "Necrotics inbound" or "Sector is. . . not secure". The body armor of the former officer hides the chest and mouth. Removal of a zombine's headcrab reveals that most of its head has been removed, leaving only the lower jaw and a small lower portion of the skull. Zombines also lack the elongated claws of their counterparts; though, unlike their standard cousins, have the ability to wield grenades which they run at the player with. Before they throw their grenades, the zombines (ignorantly) allow the grenades to go off on them.
Introduced in ''Half-Life 2'', '''Lamarr''' is a headcrab belonging to [[Doctor Isaac Kleiner]]. Having been debeaked, thereby eliminating her ability to attach to and control a host, Lamarr has been rendered into a semi-tame pet for Kleiner and a nuisance to anyone else with whom she comes into contact. Lamarr is named after the late 1930s [[actress]] and [[inventor]] [[Hedy Lamarr]], as evidenced when Dr. Kleiner alternatively calls her Hedy in the conclusion of the chapters ''A Red Letter Day'' and ''Entanglement''.
Lamarr serves as the catalyst for the first few chapters of the single-player campaign in ''Half-Life 2''. When [[Gordon Freeman]] attempts to use Dr. Kleiner's teleporter, Lamarr jumps from a vent and damages it while Gordon's teleport is in progress, teleporting him all over the city, including Dr. Breen's office in the Citadel. In the end, Gordon winds up just ''outside'' of the lab, with no way back in. This forces Gordon to proceed on foot once the malfunction subsides. When Alyx and Gordon return to the lab some time later, Lamarr escapes her cage, and Alyx has to stay behind to help Kleiner catch her, as Kleiner refuses to leave without her. Lamarr makes her final appearance in ''Half-Life 2'' after the credits, dropping down into a black background and then leaping toward the screen as part of a [[post-credits scene|stinger sequence]]. Lamarr is safe and sound in ''Episode One'', where she makes a brief cameo appearance, causing further mischief to Dr. Kleiner during his unedited evacuation broadcast in City 17. She makes yet another appearance in ''Episode Two'', where the player can see her climb into [[Arne Magnusson|Dr. Magnusson]]'s rocket, which is launched shortly before the end of the game. Seconds before the launch, Dr. Kleiner notes a payload anomaly of approximately 8.5 pounds, suggesting that Lamarr has been launched into the portal.
While headcrabs are merely wild parasites in ''Half-Life'', ''Half-Life 2'' shows that the Earth-occupying [[Combine (Half-Life)|Combine]] have put them to use as an unstable but effective [[biological weapon]] against the human Resistance. A coffin-like missile is filled with headcrabs, and fired from a mortar (as seen in ''[[Half-Life 2: Lost Coast]]'') The Combine will bombard distant areas with these missiles and the payload of each shell is released, free to infest or kill nearby victims without risk to the Combine forces. As is the unfortunate case of the devastated town [[Ravenholm]], repeated bombings can neutralize entire towns and cities in a short span of time.
<!-- Verification that more Fast headcrabs are present would be nice ;) -->
Headcrab shells commonly carry standard headcrabs and fast headcrabs, as can be seen throughout ''Half-Life 2''; poison headcrabs are only seen emerging from headcrab shells during the church battle in ''Half-Life 2: Lost Coast'' and in the ''Exit 17'' chapter of ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode One]]''. The only two examples in ''Half-Life 2'' are where the player can enter a house which has been bombed by a headcrab shell during the chapter ''Highway 17'' (searching the house will reveal several poisonous headcrabs and a poisonous headcrab zombie, but no other types, indicating that the shell contained poison headcrabs) and in the ''Route Kanal'' level, where the player can find multiple pods lying in a fenced area. Nearby, there are headcrab zombies and dead rebels, suggesting that the headcrabs are dangerous and giving the player an idea of what they do. The number of headcrabs in a missile varies between species of headcrab.
