Neptune

Neptune (Umbrella development code FI-03) was the project name for an early prototype B.O.W. (Bio-Organic Weapon) developed by Umbrella scientists working at the Spencer Mansion site. They were experimenting with a weak version of the t-Virus paired with different animals and a great white shark was chosen due to it's fear associated with humans. The name Neptune was given as it refers to the Roman God of the Seas - which was also the name given to a blue gas giant planet in our Solar System.

Unlike future B.O.W. experiments which began at the embryonic stage, the Neptune was created when the t-Virus was administered to a mature great white shark. After some time the specimens grew three or four times their regular size and did not show any outward t-Virus characteristics such as necrotic skin or unusual muscle growth - they simply had the appearance of a large shark. However, they did have much heightened aggression and as such if they spotted prey they would make a beeline for them and try to kill them.

Research and development ended when Umbrella decided that the project wasn't improving, plus the severe disadvantage of needing to be in deep water to be effective limited their capability immensely. Thus the project was cancelled and only a three live examples remained in a large water tank at the Spencer Mansion guard house - One was the mother of the two smaller sharks - and according to reports there were originally twelve and all but two died just after they were born. The remaining Neptune's met their end when the water tank was drained, rendering them harmless out of the water.

Despite the lack of potential in the Neptune, Umbrella did mass-produce the Neptune some time later in one of their European laboratories perhaps out of desperation to have something to produce cheaply as at the time the company was at the brink of ruin.