Species 2 Alien

[Percival Blanco]

Invasivealien species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment. They are a major threat to native plants and animals in Europe and are one of the five major causes of biodiversity loss. They can also cause significant adverse impacts on the economy (their economic impact in the EU was estimated at around EUR 12 billion per year) as well as human health, such as severe allergies and burns.

The Invasive Alien Species Regulation (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014) includes a set of measures to be taken across the EU in relation to invasive alien species. The core of the Regulation is the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (Union List). The species included on this list are subject to restrictions and measures set out in the Regulation. These include restrictions on keeping, importing, selling, breeding, growing and releasing into the environment.

This brochure includes a short description of all invasive alien species of Union concern, offering brief, non-technical and informal summaries of their origin, their present distribution in the EU, how they threaten our native biodiversity, and how the applicable restrictions and obligations will help mitigate their negative impacts.

Both the European Commission and the Member States can propose additional species for inclusion on the Union list, according to Article 4(4) of the Regulation, including a risk assessment. All risk assessments are available here.

An overview of risk assessments under preparation is available here. A horizon scanning was commissioned in support of the selection process. It cannot be regarded as the list that the Commission will be proposing, nor to represent the opinion of the Commission.

Proposed risk assessments are first reviewed by the Scientific Forum. It provides an opinion on whether the risk assessments are robust and fit for purpose, according to an agreed procedure. While the Scientific Forum reviews these risk assessments, stakeholders are invited to submit additional evidence that could improve the risk assessments. The risk assessments currently under review by the Scientific Forum are available here.

Proposals for which the underpinning risk assessments receive a positive opinion from the Scientific Forum are forwarded to the IAS Committee. It examines the compliance of the proposed species with the criteria for listing (cf. Art 4(3) and 4(6) of the IAS Regulation). The approved risk assessments ready for the opinion of the IAS Committee are available here.

The Commission makes the draft proposal for an update of the Union list available for public feedback. Having considered this feedback, the Commission submits the final proposal for an update of the Union list to the IAS Committee. Any update of the Union list is subject to the positive opinion of the IAS Committee.

In 2021, the Commission published the first report on the application of the Invasive Alien Species Regulation. The report finds that the Regulation is delivering on its objectives - prevention and management measures, information sharing and awareness of the problem have improved. Yet implementation is a challenge in several respects. Find out more in the press release.

The unnamed Species are the central alien-human hybrids depicted in the Species film series. An instinctively predatory race, the Species - which track its origins to the Magellanic Galaxy - has been described as a cancerous race, infiltrating other species' gene pools through breeding and other forms of genetic contact.

In Species II , a professor named Herman Cromwell, played by Peter Boyle, claims that the original species originated in the Large Magellanic Cloud (also called the Magellanic Galaxy), the only other place in the universe where carbon-based life had apparently been discovered. It is also stipulated that they were a "cancerous" race that visited Mars millions of years ago when its surface was similar to that of Earth's, and annihilated all life on its surface before leaving a remnant of their DNA in its soil, in case something from another planet came to visit so that their species could continue to infect other planets in a similar manner.

Mankind's first interaction with this particular species occurred in 1994 when the SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life) project received a pair of messages from outer space. The first message contained a more efficient use of methane, while the second contained a DNA sequence along with directions on how to mix it with human DNA. As the first message was seen as friendly contact, scientists went ahead and performed the fusion. In the beginning, there were seven altogether, but four didn't survive, leaving only the surviving three living organisms that were created, two of which were put into frozen stasis in liquid nitrogen, while the third (a female) was allowed to grow under the code-name "Sil". Sil was later succeeded by several more generations of the species, spanning across four films (Species, Species II, Species III, and Species: The Awakening).

The Species appears to be bipedal (humanoid) forms, all save for Patrick Ross, a human male infected by the alien DNA on Mars. He seems to have two distinct alien forms: a bipedal form in mating with Eve, and a quadrupedal form in combat.

Regardless of gender, the Species have chitinous, skeletal bodies which are translucent. The mouth has two mandibles similar to that of the Predalien and they possess hair-like tentacles that are similar to the Predator. The species also has the ability to shapeshift between human and alien forms as well as a limited ability to morph their alien forms for the purpose of adaptation to given situations. The DNA structure of the species is extremely versatile and is constantly evolving and mutating, which in turn gives them incredible regenerative and adaptive capabilities, even from seemingly lethal injuries, and is invincible against normal attacks that would cripple or kill a human[1].

Most of the members of the species seen are actually mutations from humans, but a pure form is seen in the first film. It takes on the form of a blobby, tentacle monster with a long, mouth-like appendage that lashed out at whatever was nearby. The alien grew so fast that it would double in size in a matter of seconds. After a little over two minutes of life, it was killed by immolation. A similar creature is born from a female human astronaut infected by the alien DNA in Species II, but this may have been because its mother was infected by the DNA and/or didn't fully adjust to it, thus it was unable to assume a humanoid form after emerging from the womb.

In the film novelization of Species, the "pure" creature was actually a hybrid between the alien DNA and the DNA of a bat. This was done so that the creature would know no better than to use its natural free form instead of shielding itself behind a camouflage.

In Species II, an American astronaut, Patrick Ross, was infected with the alien DNA while on a mission to Mars. During the time Patrick took to return to Earth, the alien DNA that he was infected with soon transformed him into a human-alien hybrid. He then went on a mating spree, impregnating human females who would die shortly after giving birth to his offspring. And he used a tongue tentacle to attack the victim, by inserting his extendable tongue into the victim's mouth. Towards the end of the film, Patrick (quadrupedal alien form) demonstrated the ability to split his head in two, thus forming a dual-headed form.

In Species III, another male, Yosef had an extendable, tentacle penis, which he attempted to use to enter Sara's mouth, use to kill or even impregnate her. This suggests that the female of the species can in fact be impregnated by the male of the species via oral intercourse.

In alien form, the females have the womb located in the chest area. The mouth appears to be connected to the womb, and they can be orally impregnated[2]. However, as appeared in Species II and Species the Awakening, it is also possible they get pregnant like humans even in alien form. When the female gives birth in her alien form, the chest opens to allow the baby to emerge from it[3]. Yet, if the female is in her human form, the womb separates from her body as it becomes swollen. The top of the womb becomes transparent, showing the rapid growth of the fetus, and once it is fully developed, it burst out through the thin skin[4].

The female of the species is the most prominent as well the most dangerous. The movies reveal numerous generations of the female species, each varying in appearance and abilities. It can be assumed that as the species procreates (whether with humans or other hybrids), it evolves and improves with each generation. Regardless, each generation share similar, physical characteristics.

The female will kill any other female that represents an obstacle to get a male and even a potential mate if he refuses to mate with her. They will, however, reject the males that possess genetic imperfections. They are also shown to kill any rejected males who attempt to force them to engage in sex.

Once the female mates and becomes impregnated, she is most likely to kill the male, though it is unknown if this is a trait of the species in general, or if it just applies when they mate with humans. The pregnancy only lasts a few minutes, less than an hour. Sil had time to hide and track Fitch's team, Eve gave birth several hours after Sara's conception, while Patrick's victims started their pregnancies right after he had sex with them.

They are born to a member of the species and a human being. Like other hybrids in the films, they develop very quickly in the mother's womb, and forcefully burst out of the stomach when developed enough. They need to cocoon in order to reach adulthood and possess a high mating instinct, among other similarities. However, according to Bruce Abbot, some half-breeds have very weak immune systems and short lifespans. In the third film, Patrick's three remaining children are decaying and eventually die due to having under-developed immune systems, unlike his pure hybrid daughter, Sara, who is disease-free and might even be able to live for hundreds of years.

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