There are many different kinds of zombies, but identifying them can be VERY important.

So lets start with the common types.

SHAMBLER: These are your common, Slow moving zombies, They may have been dead longer than the others, or come from a host that was elderly. They cant move very fast and hence their slow shambling gait which gives them their name. Do not write these type of zombies off as a non threat. They may move slowly, but tend to show up in areas when you least expect them. Also, they can cause ammo to be waisted. You really have to watch out for these on a night watch, as they're quieter than our next type of zombie.

RUNNERS: These are the Fast moving zombies, They'll usually move like shamblers until alerted, than will take off at a high rate of speed towards whatever alerted them. These are the zombies common in modern motion picture and video game. Runners are a harder target to hit due to movement causeing the head to move suddenly and bob as they run. These are one of the most dangerous types of zombies, Newly infected/younger hosts Are what produces a runner zombie. Runners will usually emit a yell or some loud noise when alerted, that can alert other runners in the area.

This is only a beginning list, if anyone has anything to add please do.

what about the ones distracted by fireworks?  or leader zombies?

Kiddy zombie.  Deviecingly strong and agile.  Have no mercy as he can still bite.


Zombie pooch.  Cujo wishes he was this mean.

Mother in Laws?

But zombies dont attack animals. The only way a dog would become a zombie is from eating the flesh of a zed.

I prefer to classify then by movie type.  I'd rather get chased by a NOLD zombie than one from 28 days or I am Legend.

Zombie animals attack animals though....think I AM LEGEND

Are 28 days later considered zombies? if so why?
Aren't I am legends vampires?

No zombies in 28 days later

I am legand has been a toss up, but I think more vampire than zombie

The ones in i am legend arent zombies. They didnt die once and come back, they're not rotting either.

do you know how many arguments i have gotten into with people about weather or not they are zombies in 28 days later?   ALOT..i dont think there will ever be a conclusion. i say yes..most say they are not. I am legend..how ever..i have not thought of..i'll get back to you

runners have been around for awhile.
note return of the living dead 1&2

Obviously you guys haven't read the Zombie Survival Guide.  There are only 2 types of zombies.  Virus infected slow zombies and voodoo zombies (which are just brain damaged humans).  All others are Hollywood creations.

According to the book World War Z, they do attack animals, it's just that animals don't zombify.

Ragers arent zombies in the traditional sence. While they will try to tear you apart, their circulatory and resperatory systems are still working. Plus since this kind operate on pure adrenalin, they will blow out their knee  and hip ligaments after a while, effectively making them shamblers.
Runners are unlikely becouse balance and control are required and their brains are just not up to the task.
Shamblers are the most likely to be seen and work  "en mass". The bastards will starve you out through attrition since once they find out where you are they will just stay there and gather in number.

 

depends on your definition

romero zombie? then no as they are already dead and came back to eat the flesh and can only be killed severe brain trauma

voodoo zombie? could go either way since they are still alive just without any higher thought processes

the 28 days victims are still alive and can be killed like any normal human and they technically arent eating you just full of "rage" to kill

personally i say no

Max Brooks book are a decent read but cannot be used to make any argument. This of course changes if brooks has had any real contact with zombies

on a side note I think he just found a niche to make money and could carelee about serious zombie study/duscussion

You also have the Morningstar zombies.

Carriers which are living infected hosts ala 28 Days later with similar behaviour. These folks are actually alive and can run.

Upon death, the Moringstar virus reanimates them and they become true zombies with more limited mobility which gets worse with decomposition.

I think we must first classify the different class of Zombie, then each class has its own subclass.  Feel free to name these subclasses.


A- Necrozombie, Human dead, turned to undead, by means of witchcraft or voodoo.  NZs will normally be slow moving, but have a purpose and are controlled by a Living human master.  Generally if bitten by a NZ you will not turn undead, unless you die from the attack itself.  Killing the human master will not kill the NZ.  You must undo what ever spell was used to create the NZ.  When a NZ has no master it will be a mindless wandering zombie subclass 1.  They have 3 subclasses.

1- Slow moving, general battle field fodder, will stop attacking when given a food source. Will not die unless all parts are burned to ash.
2- Slow moving, more task oriented zombies.  will not stop til burned or their mission is complete, then they drop and die.
3- fast moving guardian types.  they will not start attacking unless they are commanded to attack..then they turn to #2, but will not die after completing the task.


B- Viralzombie. Zombies created by virus.  Any fluid to fluid contact creates more zombies.  They are completely autonomous and have no other purpose then to feed.  They have no thought other then to feed. There are 2 subclasses.

1-Slow moving, standard zombie which was a dead human. Depending on how long they were dead is directly proportional to their movement speed.  A person who was shot and killed, then infected will move at a fast walk speed.  Anyone dead for 3 or more days will be limited to a slow walk.
2-Faster zombie. This is the worst subclass of VZ.  They are the ones who were first killed by the virus and turned zombie at the same time.  They were not killed, but only bitten.  Therefore when they are undead, they can move at a fast pace, even run.

C-DNAzombie Any living thing can be turned undead by altering its DNA, but that pathogen may not effect every animal the same way.  Dogs may need to be bitten, while humans can be infected via air particles,  birds remain unaffected even when eating the pathogen infected corpse. There are 3 subclasses.

1-phase 1 DZ, normal speed, pack instincts, may or may not attack based on assessment of the thing it sees.  If cornered will attack or if separated from its pack it will also attack.  P1DZs will be unpredictable unless they are in a pack and have a pack leader.
2-PLDZ (pack-leader).  They are upper thinkers in the zombie world.  They can plan and think. they are still stupid, but NEVER underestimate them.
3-Enhanced-DZ.  Who ever thought creating a zombie with modified strength and limited weaknesses was a good idea is a complete idiot.  Zombies that can jump 300 feet and rip open steel doors with their hands is a sure sign to just shoot yourself in the head while you can still do so.  Encountering EDZs is imminent fail, so just commit suicide...make sure you shoot your brain.

I completely disagree with a lot of that book.  there is new research that it overlooks and it completely disregards old world standards, much like our scientist do on any subject.

Stage II and Stage III Zombies

These two zombies destroyed near Gainesville, Florida in the early 1960s offer a good example of the differences between Stage II and Stage III zombies.


The Stage II zombie retains both eyes. The nose is partially gone, and the area around the mouth is beginning to undergo significant necrosis. Still, the zombie has a large amount of intact flesh and some sharp teeth and presents a formidable adversary.


Both eyes, all the teeth and most of the nose are gone in the Stage III zombie. Such a zombie is likely to be malnourished and confused. In the old days, people often made sport of Stage III zombies, taunting them with stick and rocks. But as many of these pranksters found out, the Stage III zombie still had some power in its jaws and was capable of clamping down on a forearm and spreading the virus in an instant.


info from www.fvza.org

Land of the Dead, the one in the zombie combo pack with DOTD '04.  Horrible.


 

u r speshul

Well I would say 28 days was a qualified zombie apocalypse movie so if one wants to call them zombies, why not?

Agreed, Both 28 days and IAL are zombies, but in two different classes.

"28 days later", Viralzombies subclass 2.
"IAL", DNAzombie, subclass 1 and 2.
"Resident Evil", DNAzombie, subclasses 1, 2 & 3.
"Children shouldnt play with dead things" Necrozombie subclass 1 & 2.
"Dawn of the Dead", Viralzombie, subclass 1 & 2
"Night of the living dead", Viralzombie subclass 1.
"Mrs Howard Stern" Necrozombie, subclass 1....Its the only logical reason she acts like she does.

"28 Days Later" was a viral attack that made people "zombie" like.
It would be a big mistake for us not to treat these animals as zombies.

I'm ashamed that no one mentioned headcrab zombies.

Zombies created by a parasite, I would assume. Do we have a category for that one yet?

My worst fear are these kind of zombies; pack hunters, brutally fast, and intelligent, like a Jesus and Velociraptor clone. (Sources: Jurassic Park, Half-Life 2)

http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Fast_Zombie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekFjynLgLOs&feature=related

"Day of the Dead" (2007).
Here the mofos moved very fast, jump very high and were able to crawl in the ceiling and walls. Like Spiderman.
They fired M16's and drove vehicles. Supposedly they could remember past skills.
They were also very hungry critters. One ate his own hanging eyeball and kept going after his meal despite having both legs amputated.
I call these spiderman zombies.

That movie didn't even hit theaters...

I know...it wasn't released.

Anyways, no way I'll watch a zombie movie at the theater with a bunch of zombie-looking strangers...I like to have my arsenal nearby when I watch it.

Ok, everybody knows that real zombies don't run. Viral zombies on the other hand(the most likely form of zombacalypse) would probably be able to run initially but over time would become shamblers. So, probably in the Zombacalypse we will face, we will not face traditional zombies but viral zombies. So find a secure place quickly and wait for them to deteriorate so you don't have to worry about getting chased down by runners early in the zombacalypse. Wait until they become shamblers and then go looting. Don't think that runners might not ever show up as some might not deteriorate as quickly as others and there could also be newly infected zombies.

Yeah that was one big WTF there.
Some people have no business making zombie movies.

Apparently you have not viewed all of the required training documentaries.  Resident Evil tells us that at least canines are susceptible to the T-Virus.