as regards the length and stoutness of the lower leg and the foot, "e. eocaenus" would probably have been similar to a good-sized american rhea ("rhea americana") in measurements. its toes, however, differed vastly in shape and posture from those of this ratite (and most other birds). above the tibiotarsal trochleae of the african bird, the bone was considerably wider than the ankle, among ratites being matched by some moa and the dwarf cassowary ("casuarius bennetti"). thus, towards its toes the midfoot bone must have flared outwards, resulting in an overall wide-footed appearance. it is notable that while elephant birds have toes that are only a little more flaring than those of rheas, those of fast-running long-legged birds (ratites and others, like seriemas and some charadriiformes) generally tend to bunch together in a narrower angle, with the most extreme situation found in the ostrich. this suggests that wherever "eremopezus" did walk, it indeed walked or trotted and ran only in dire need—if it could run quickly at all, which is by no means certain.