diff --git a/docs/rh-log.txt b/docs/rh-log.txt
index 9e762e1ae3..8974d892bb 100644
--- a/docs/rh-log.txt
+++ b/docs/rh-log.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-May 8, 2009
+May 11, 2009
+- Added Species property for actors and separated Hexen's Demon1 and Demon2
+  into different species.
+
+May 8, 2009
 - Added transference of a select few flags from PowerProtection to its owner.
 - Added actor type parameters to A_PodPain() and A_MakePod().
 - The savegame path is now passed through NicePath(), since it's user-
diff --git a/src/actor.h b/src/actor.h
index 82d4290e0a..8bd5edc13f 100644
--- a/src/actor.h
+++ b/src/actor.h
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ public:
 	bool IsHostile (AActor *other);
 
 	// What species am I?
-	virtual const PClass *GetSpecies();
+	virtual FName GetSpecies();
 	
 	// Enter the crash state
 	void Crash();
@@ -639,7 +639,6 @@ public:
 	FRenderStyle	RenderStyle;		// Style to draw this actor with
 	DWORD			renderflags;		// Different rendering flags
 	FTextureID		picnum;				// Draw this instead of sprite if valid
-	int				TIDtoHate;			// TID of things to hate (0 if none)
 	DWORD			effects;			// [RH] see p_effect.h
 	fixed_t			alpha;
 	DWORD			fillcolor;			// Color to draw when STYLE_Shaded
@@ -685,6 +684,8 @@ public:
 	fixed_t			SpawnPoint[3]; 	// For nightmare respawn
 	WORD			SpawnAngle;
 	int				skillrespawncount;
+	int				TIDtoHate;			// TID of things to hate (0 if none)
+	FNameNoInit		Species;
 	TObjPtr<AActor>	tracer;			// Thing being chased/attacked for tracers
 	TObjPtr<AActor>	master;			// Thing which spawned this one (prevents mutual attacks)
 	fixed_t			floorclip;		// value to use for floor clipping
diff --git a/src/dobjtype.cpp b/src/dobjtype.cpp
index 481df51379..5030cc70d4 100644
--- a/src/dobjtype.cpp
+++ b/src/dobjtype.cpp
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ DObject *PClass::CreateNew () const
 	assert (mem != NULL);
 
 	// Set this object's defaults before constructing it.
-	if (Defaults!=NULL)
+	if (Defaults != NULL)
 		memcpy (mem, Defaults, Size);
 	else
 		memset (mem, 0, Size);
@@ -274,14 +274,20 @@ PClass *PClass::CreateDerivedClass (FName name, unsigned int size)
 	type->Size = size;
 	type->Pointers = NULL;
 	type->ConstructNative = ConstructNative;
-	if (!notnew) type->ClassIndex = m_Types.Push (type);
+	if (!notnew)
+	{
+		type->ClassIndex = m_Types.Push (type);
+	}
 	type->Meta = Meta;
+
+	// Set up default instance of the new class.
 	type->Defaults = new BYTE[size];
 	memcpy (type->Defaults, Defaults, Size);
 	if (size > Size)
 	{
 		memset (type->Defaults + Size, 0, size - Size);
 	}
+
 	type->FlatPointers = NULL;
 	type->bRuntimeClass = true;
 	type->ActorInfo = NULL;
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.cpp b/src/p_mobj.cpp
index bccfab597b..2a9d9c802e 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,11 @@ void AActor::Serialize (FArchive &arc)
 		<< BlockingMobj
 		<< BlockingLine;
 
+	if (SaveVersion >= 1573)
+	{
+		arc << Species;
+	}
+
 	if (arc.IsStoring ())
 	{
 		int convnum = 0;
@@ -4939,13 +4944,19 @@ bool AActor::IsTeammate (AActor *other)
 // AActor :: GetSpecies
 //
 // Species is defined as the lowest base class that is a monster
-// with no non-monster class in between. This is virtualized, so special
+// with no non-monster class in between. If the actor specifies an explicit
+// species (i.e. not 'None'), that is used. This is virtualized, so special
 // monsters can change this behavior if they like.
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-const PClass *AActor::GetSpecies()
+FName AActor::GetSpecies()
 {
+	if (Species != NAME_None)
+	{
+		return Species;
+	}
+
 	const PClass *thistype = GetClass();
 
 	if (GetDefaultByType(thistype)->flags3 & MF3_ISMONSTER)
@@ -4958,7 +4969,7 @@ const PClass *AActor::GetSpecies()
 				break;
 		}
 	}
-	return thistype;
+	return thistype->TypeName;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
diff --git a/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp b/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
index 65b527100f..f71b0afdf4 100644
--- a/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/thingdef/thingdef_properties.cpp
@@ -950,6 +950,15 @@ DEFINE_PROPERTY(gravity, F, Actor)
 	if (i == 0) defaults->flags |= MF_NOGRAVITY;
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//==========================================================================
+DEFINE_PROPERTY(species, S, Actor)
+{
+	PROP_STRING_PARM(n, 0);
+	defaults->Species = n;
+}
+
 //==========================================================================
 //
 //==========================================================================
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/actors/hexen/demons.txt b/wadsrc/static/actors/hexen/demons.txt
index 46daae3fa2..6be47bf27d 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/actors/hexen/demons.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/actors/hexen/demons.txt
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ ACTOR Demon2 : Demon1 8080
 {
 	Game Hexen
 	Obituary "$OB_DEMON2"
+	Species "Demon2"
 	States
 	{
 	Spawn: