Chimera

Chimera were B.O.W.s created by inserting fly DNA and the t-Virus into human tissue. They were being manufactured inside the Arklay Laboratory located under the Spencer Mansion and adopted that section of the facility as their habitat during the Mansion incident. Aside from their fly-like appearance, the Chimera's most notable characteristics is their ability to walk over walls and ceilings. They usually use the air ducts to travel from one part of the lab to the other and attack with their claw-like limbs. When killed, a chemical imbalance in their bodies causes them to dissolve.

Development and biology


The Chimera was the only other artificially produced B.O.W., besides the Hunter and Tyrant known to have been made through genetic manipulation. They were created by artificially-inseminating a human ovum (egg cell) with fly DNA, and then impregnating women with the creatures.

They cannot fly because of the lack of size of their wings, and they lacked a fully developed exoskeleton. Even though they showed signs of notable resilience, their intelligence was little more than that of an insect. Their bodies also hosted a large number of maggots. Due to their many flaws, further research into more advanced forms was never conducted, and the Chimera's basic form was never refined to the lengths of the Hunter or the Tyrant.

Still, Umbrella continued at least limited production of Chimeras in other facilities for a number of years, as several were discovered during Chris and Jill's raid on their Russian HQ.

Strategy
The Chimera can be killed with a shotgun (preferably Richard's assault shotgun) at close range with one to two shots. However, it is capable of retreating after taking one shot to the vents it came from, making it impossible to kill. A high caliber magnum or the magnum revolver can kill them instantly. When playing as Jill, if Forest's grenade launcher has already been obtained, then its normal rounds will also kill the Chimera in one shot.

Trivia

 * In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a monster consisting of a lion's body and head, a second head of a goat, and a tail ending with a snake's head. Diverting from the classical depiction, modern Chimeras often incorporate additional elements, such as an eagle's head or wings. Interestingly enough, the mythological appearance of the Chimera was included in Resident Evil 4 as part of a major puzzle in Salazar's Castle. Simultaneously, the Chimera shares an attack with U-3, the boss who was meant to represent the chimera from the puzzle, where it will grab its opponent with a hook-like arm from the ceiling, decapitating them (the latter merely breaks its opponent's neck).
 * Its appearance and method of creation alludes to the science fiction horror movie, The Fly.
 * The concept of maggots growing on the Chimera was the brainchild of Planning Director Hideki Kamiya.
 * The Chimeras were originally in RE2 but instead of being human-fly they were combinations of humans and spiders. However they were deleted when Capcom decided to scrap the game and re-do it from scrach.