Chimera

There are two possible meanings for the word "chimera" in the context of animals.
One is a mythological creature from Greek legends, and the other is a genetic term for an organism with cells from different zygotes.

The mythological chimera was a fire-breathing monster that had the head and body of a lion, the head of a goat on its back, and the tail of a serpent.
It was one of the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, along with other beasts like Cerberus and the Hydra.
It was killed by the hero Bellerophon, who rode on the winged horse Pegasus.

The genetic chimera is an animal that has two or more different sets of DNA in its cells, usually as a result of sexual reproduction between different species or individuals.
For example, a mule is a chimera of a horse and a donkey, and some humans are chimeras of their own twins.
Chimeras can also be artificially created by combining cells from different embryos or by transplanting organs or tissues.

According to the legend, the Chimera lived in Lycia, a region in Asia Minor (now Turkey).

It terrorized the people and animals there until it was killed by the hero Bellerophon, who rode on the winged horse Pegasus.

Bellerophon was sent by the king of Lycia to slay the Chimera, hoping that the monster would kill him instead.

But Bellerophon succeeded with the help of the gods and became famous for his deed.

There once was a beast called Chimera
Who had three heads and breathed fire
A lion, a goat and a snake
Made up this fearsome creature

She lived in Lycia, a land far away
And terrorized people every day
Until a hero named Bellerophon
Came along with his winged horse Pegasus

He flew in the sky and shot his spear
Into the goat head of the Chimera
She roared and hissed and spat out flame
But soon she fell and breathed no more

Bellerophon was hailed as a great slayer
And the people were free from the Chimera
But some say she had a secret lover
And her children were the Sphinx and the Nemean Lion