Spiders

First appearance: Resident Evil 1

Information

Spiders, with their natural ability to adapt to almost any environment, have been studied for years with the intention of making them into B.O.W.'s. For that reason, there have been many different creatures created from spiders. Although they may all look similarly frightening, there are in fact several differences between them that we would like to lay out here. First we have the Web Spinner, one of the first B.O.W.'s born from experiments with the T-Virus. In an ironic twist, Web Spinners have grown too large to actually spin any webs, and now attack their prey directly with a strong acidic liquid they secrete. This kind of spider isn't very dangerous. It's believed to be best equipped to spread the T-Virus further than it could go without the help of creatures that can walk on walls and ceilings. Black Tigers were originally among the Web Spinners that were supposed to have been disposed of, but for unknown reasons, they underwent further mutations that increased their life force and attack power considerably. They're almost twice as big as the Web Spinners, and their bodies are considerably darker. In addition, their ability to spin webs has been restored, allowing them to hunt and kill prey in a much more spider-like fashion.

Now, here's where it gets complicated. The Giant Spiders are actually divided into two different genera. There are those that were accidentally exposed to the T-Virus, and those that were experimented on from the start to become B.O.W.'s and grew to giant size for unknown reasons. The former can be spotted in the mansion facilities and in the Raccoon City sewers, and they're just normal spiders that were exposed to the virus and grew to large size, with an accompanying increase in toxicity. The latter can be found in the Antarctic base, and were developed from the extremely poisonous Black Widow spider. This spider was supposed to have been sent to one of Umbrella's branch companies, but apparently it escaped from its export capsule and has evolved to survive in the harsh conditions of the Antarctic.

Giant Spider

The results of administering the T-Virus to a pure-blooded breed of spider. These spiders were used to prove the amazing growth effects of the virus. They use their enhanced mobility and projectile venom to ensnare their prey.

Web Spinner

A new B.O.W. that was developed after studying the growth effects on regular spiders accidentally infected with the virus. These spiders were especially noted for their ability to spread the virus.

Black Tiger

A sudden, unexpected variation of the Web Spinner that can shoot its web to capture unsuspecting prey. It contains a large quantity of venom in its abdomen. It captures prey by ensnaring them with venom-enhanced webs, and by splattering venom in all directions upon taking damage.

Giant Spider (Raccoon City)

These Giant Spiders were born from the disaster that attacked all of Raccoon City. They're thought to have been created when the T- Virus was carried down to the sewers where they live.

Black Widow and Giant Black Widow

Black Widows refer to spiders that were specially developed and trained as B.O.W:s before being sent to Rockfort Island. In fact, these spiders were meant to be sent to all Umbrella branch companies, but one of them escaped and became the Giant Spider that inhabits the Antarctic base. When this spider's abdomen is destroyed, it releases several Little Spiders to continue its work. Its main characteristic is the total lack of hair on its body.

The Danger of Little Spiders

Spiders, once they're infected with the T-Virus, grow to enormous size so as not to be hunted by other animals. With increased hostility and toxicity, they search for prey and continue to breed once they find it. For that reason, mother spiders always carry around countless numbers of Little Spiders within their abdomens. If anything happens to the mother, the Little Spiders then go off and attack humans. Fortunately, they're small enough that you can kill them by stepping on them, but the greater their numbers, the greater their threat.

In the Antarctic base, the Giant Spider exhibits the same characteristics as its smaller Black Widow cousins: spitting venom and using its gigantic jaw to capture prey. This spider carries her young in her stomach, just as her Raccoon City cousins do. She releases them in the same manner upon her death, and they carry the same danger in numbers. Incidentally, the Little Spiders that escape from the dead bodies of Web Spinners are also referred to as Baby Spiders, and they come in far fewer numbers.