saltation

Saltation is a term with multiple meanings. In biology, it refers to the origin of a new species or higher taxon in a single evolutionary step, or more generally, a mutation. It can also describe a locomotor pattern of hopping, seen in animals like kangaroos and frogs, where hind legs are significantly longer than front legs, and jumps are governed by ballistics.12

In geology, saltation describes the movement of sediment particles, such as sand, that are too heavy to remain suspended in water or air but are carried forward by leaps or bounds. This process is a form of sediment transport in rivers and streams, where particles jump from the crest of one ripple to another. It is also a term used in the context of playas, which are flat, dry lake beds where salt and sediment accumulate.34