(B)azinga!

Meet Bazinga, the Oregon Zoo's new veiled chameleon:

Photo from the Oregon Zoo

Isn't it gorgeous? That tail! Those colors! That ... shark fin on its head? You can see Bazinga in the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, across from the dwarf mongoose enclosure.

I was hoping that this captivating creating was going to become part of our programs animals collection; the kids at ZooSnooze would be very impressed! However, a little cursory research has shown that handling can be very stressful for chameleons. Handlers must move slowly, use caution, and keep handling to a minimum. Ultimately, stress on an animal can lead to a shorter life ... and since, well, kids tend to move neither slowly nor cautiously ... Bazinga would probably soon be Bazin-gone.

You can find veiled chameleons close to home (think Petco, but only if you are an experienced handler), but they are primarily native to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (Am I the only one who cannot hear "Yemen" without thinking of Chandler in Friends?)

Watch: Chandler Goes To Yemen

And while we're speaking of sitcoms, I Googled "Bazinga" to find out its meaning. According to UrbanDictionary.com, "Bazinga" is:

A catchy phrase to accompany your clever pranks, as popularized by Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory).
"I just replaced your toothpaste with denture cream. Bazinga!"

Photo from Flickr.com

Which I suppose is better than some of the other definitions provided on the site:

Bazingas

1. The inverse of bazongas
2. Female breasts of smaller proportions

"I prefer girls with bazingas over girls with bazongas."

Bazinga

People have started using this term to disguise the use of weed. (Have they really?)

"Let's Bazinga tonight!!" "Who wants to Bazinga??"

Bazinga

The word that should be used when something is so legit it is indescribable but by this word.

"Bazinga, girl - you sure can make a peanut butter sandwich."

"Holy bazinga -  i just farted and it smelled like lucky charms."

But more on point, here are links to the Oregonian's article introducing this remarkable reptile, and to the Oregon Zoo's fun fact sheet.

And less on point, yet absolutely necessary in closing:

 Watch: Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon"