Blue wildebeest is placed in the family Bovidae, ruminant animals with cloven hooves. The generic name "Connochaetes" derives from the Greek words κόννος, kónnos, "beard", and χαίτη, khaítē, "flowing hair", "mane". The specific name "taurinus" originates from the Greek word "tauros", which means a bull or bullock. The common name "blue wildebeest" refers to the conspicuous, silvery-blue sheen of the coat, while the alternative name "gnu" originates from the name for these animals used by the Khokloi people, a native pastoralist people of southwestern Africa. Though the blue and black wildebeest are currently classified in the same genus, the latter was previously
Wildebeest (ride) Wildebeest (ride) Wildebeest is a water coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. It was designed and built beginning in 2009 by ProSlide Technology; it opened on May 7, 2010. "Wildebeest" is named after the African mammal, keeping with the water park's safari theme. When it was completed in 2010, "Wildebeest" held the record for the world's longest water coaster at long. It held that record until May 11, 2012, when Mammoth, Holiday World's second water coaster, took over the title at long. In 2010, "Wildebeest" was voted the world's "Best New Waterpark Ride"