Which avatar of Vishnu is a half-man, half-lion?

Which avatar of Vishnu is a half-man, half-lion? Narasimha is Vishnu’s fourth principal avatar, shown with a human body and a lion’s head and claws.

The best-known story appears in the Bhagavata Purana and related Hindu traditions. The demon king Hiranyakashipu received a boon from Brahma that made him extremely difficult to kill: he could not die by man or beast, indoors or outdoors, by day or night, or by a weapon. Vishnu appeared as Narasimha to protect Hiranyakashipu’s devoted son, Prahlada.

Narasimha killed the demon at twilight, on a palace threshold, placing him on his lap and tearing him apart with claws. Each detail was designed to evade the conditions of the boon. The name combines Sanskrit nara, “man,” and simha, “lion.”

Narasimha is often confused with Varaha, Vishnu’s boar-headed avatar, or Vamana, the dwarf avatar. He is also worshipped in both fierce forms, such as Ugra Narasimha, and peaceful forms, including Lakshmi Narasimha, shown with the goddess Lakshmi.