Wanamingo

Wanamingos, often erroneously referred to as aliens, are creatures that appear in Fallout 2.

Background
Wanamingos are strange mutant animals that live mostly underground. They are also often called aliens, due to being mistaken for extra-terrestrial beings. They were designed as FEV-tailored weapons for waging war on other countries and they escaped into the wastes.

Biology
They can live a long time, but are dying out by 2241. They hatch from eggs laid by the wanamingo queen, which is larger than the other wanamingos and grey in color. They aren't intelligent in the usual sense, but they do seem to have a hive-mind mentality.

The only known queen lived in the Wanamingo Mine in Redding, owned by Ascorti. All "aliens" living in that mine were killed by the Chosen One in 2242. Some other wanamingos/aliens could be found in the desert, and in the San Francisco tanker. The name "wanamingo" was originally only used locally in Redding, but eventually came to be used for the species as a whole elsewhere as well.

Gameplay attributes
Beware of the wanamingos as they are fast, have a high laser damage resistance and hit multiple times. However, they have very little resistance to fire. They will also run away from battle and stop attacking if one of their feet gets crippled. There's a chance to instantly kill them (based on how much health they have left), if you make a critical hit on their eyes.

Wanamingo
Wanamingos are strange mutant animals that live mostly underground in groups. They are also often called aliens, due to being mistaken for extra-terrestrial beings. They can live a long time, but are dying out by 2241.

Wanamingo queen
The wanamingo queen is the matriarch of the wanamingos. She can be found in the Great Wanamingo Mine in Redding. This is the only queen known to exist in 2241. She can lay eggs for the reproduction of the wanamingos and can be found deep underground in her breeding room.

Mutant wanamingo
Mutant wanamingo is a creature cut from the final version of Fallout 3. This is a wanamingo very mutated by radiation. Its mouth has been enlarged, it has been rendered sans tentacles and has taken a pinkish color. It appears wildly different than those encountered in Fallout 2.

Appearances
Wanamingos appear only in Fallout 2. Mutant wanamingos do not appear in the files of Fallout 3, but can be found in the book The Art of Fallout 3, an art book available with the Collector's Edition of the game. This book also includes a new version of wanamingo mutated by radiation.

They are also mentioned by No-bark Noonan in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes
Their heads bear a resemblance to the heads of the aliens, or Xenomorphs, from the Alien franchise.