Reconstruction of the hind limb of hyaenodont Hyainailouros sulzeri. Large hyaenodonts-hyainailourids, whose limbs are known, had blunt, hoof-like claws
Leonard Ginsburg, in an article about the incomplete skeleton of Hyainailouros sulzeri from France, wrote: "In the hindlimb, the femur has the morphology and the proportiotions of that of the felids. It seems to indicate the possibility of jumping. On the tibia, the insertions for the muscles flexor halluxi longus (= flexor digitorum), popliteus and tibialis posterior have the same proportions as in felids. It is a good indication of digitigrady. On the contrary, the superior articular surface of the astragalus is not deeply grooved, like in plantigrade carnivores (e.g. ursids). But the fibula is very strong and has a big contact with the calcaneus. Hence, the articulation between the leg and the astragalus is solid and the animal can be a digitgrade."
