Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
For centuries, something has haunted the pine barrens of New Jersey. Is it an otherworldly specter, or something explainable by science?
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Check out the ‘World of Cryptobiology’ on World Anvil!
▷ World Anvil: worldanvil.com/w/the-cryptobiologist
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All characters appearing in this work are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any character images are AI-generated.
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Chapters
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Background
3:30 - Factor
5:46 - Initial Investigation
8:17 - The Fungus
10:48 - Biological Mechanisms
14:47 - Skeletal & Muscular Adaptations
17:00 - Vocalization Changes
19:52 - Behavioral Analysis
For centuries, something has haunted the pine barrens of New Jersey. Is it an otherworldly specter, or something explainable by science?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the ‘World of Cryptobiology’ on World Anvil!
▷ World Anvil: worldanvil.com/w/the-cryptobiologist
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All characters appearing in this work are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any character images are AI-generated.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Background
3:30 - Factor
5:46 - Initial Investigation
8:17 - The Fungus
10:48 - Biological Mechanisms
14:47 - Skeletal & Muscular Adaptations
17:00 - Vocalization Changes
19:52 - Behavioral Analysis





![The Horrifying Biology of The Flood (Part One) | The Science of Halos Parasite
Get started with your own spec evo, fantasy, sci-fi, or any other world you can think of with World Anvil! Visit https://www.worldanvil.com/?c=ThoughtPotato for 40% off ALL NEW yearly subscriptions!
Today, well begin a deep dive into the biology, physiology, form, and function of The Flood parasite, as made famous in the Halo video game series.
This parasite is a horrifying example of biology run rampant, and in this video, well see just how *inferi redivivus* can conquer entire star systems.
Check out the ‘World of Cryptobiology’ on World Anvil!
▷ World Anvil: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/the-cryptobiologist
This video was edited by @CyanRameron , who does excellent work!
Sources:
- Flood transformation sequences provided by Marionette Mayhem: https://www.youtube.com/@MarionetteMayhem
- Pure form, combat form, and infection form artwork by ThemeFinland: https://www.deviantart.com/themefinland
- Bungie (2001-2010). Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 [Video game series]. Microsoft Game Studios.
- 343 Industries (2011-present). Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians [Video game series]. Microsoft Studios.
- Cortana (2001). The Flood [In-game dialogue]. In Bungie, Halo: Combat Evolved. Microsoft Game Studios.
- Gelvin, S. B. (2003). Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation: the biology behind the gene-jockeying tool. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 67(1), 16-37.
- Gohlke, J., & Deeken, R. (2014). Plant responses to Agrobacterium tumefaciens and crown gall development. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5, 155.
- Lacroix, B., & Citovsky, V. (2016). The roles of bacterial and host plant factors in Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology, 324, 1-34.
- Lacroix B, Citovsky V. Transfer of DNA from Bacteria to Eukaryotes. mBio. 2016 Jul 12;7(4):e00863-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00863-16. PMID: 27406565; PMCID: PMC4958254.
- https://kotaku.com/real-life-parasites-that-behave-remarkably-like-halos-m-5981553 The Horrifying Biology of The Flood (Part One) | The Science of Halos Parasite](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WO45zIqMDj4/mqdefault.jpg)




