Centaur

Centaurs are misshapen, mutated creatures. They are a by-product of infection by the Forced Evolutionary Virus, and some of them were created by the Master by tossing a varied mix of humans, dogs and other types of animals into an FEV nutrient vat to be infected by the virus and then see what mutant chimera emerged as the virus produced rapid and unpredictable mutations. As a result, Centaurs can differ quite radically in physical appearance from one another.

The Centaurs are not only created by the FEV, they also seem to live quite successfully in a heavily irradiated environment.

West Coast
In the Core Region, Centaurs were created by the Master and frequently travel in packs with floaters. They encompassed a large bulk of the Master's armies and are commonly found with the nightkin and other remnants of the Master's army who roam Northern California.

Capital Wasteland
The Centaurs encountered in the Capital Wasteland are physically different from the Centaurs from the Core Region, trading the dog-like head for a human one and the feelers on their back for 3 long, tentacle-like tongues. Like their western counterparts, they are created by infection with the FEV along with the Super Mutants, so their birthplace is Vault 87. Unlike its Core Region "cousins", the Capital Wasteland Centaur uses a ranged attack: a high-arcing, slow-moving saliva projectile that can carry lethal doses of radiation. Oddly enough, it is capable of igniting lingering gas vapors as well, indicating some kind of pyrophoric quality. Centaurs are known to accompany Super Mutants as "guard dogs", so if you see one, expect to find Super Mutants ahead.

Fallout 3
Centaurs can pose, at best, a moderate threat level to players but are generally a weak enemy. Their weak spot is their long, tentacle-like tongues which can be easily targeted in V.A.T.S. Usually they don't carry anything, although they sometimes have chems like Jet, small amounts of caps, and rarely random items like Teddy Bears. Another possible drop is a bobby pin or two. They spit slow moving, radioactive balls as a ranged attack which may ignite nearby gas leaks, but is relatively easy to dodge. The damage done by the spit itself is low, but can increase your rads quickly (+4 per second for 10 seconds). When up close, the Centaur whips its tongue at you. There is, however, a "save zone" when fighting them, which is just out of range of their tongue attack, but too close for their spit attack. This melee attack is rather delayed, usually slower than the player's melee attacks. Centaurs are rarely found wandering alone and so may indicate that Super Mutants are nearby.

Appearances
Centaurs appear in Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.

Centaur