Whales Have a Unique Way to Avoid Choking - Newser

Writing in the journal Current Biology, the Canadian researchers say the fleshy tissue—part of the soft palate—appears to be unique to whales, per the New York Times.

They made the discovery in fin whales but say it likely applies as well to humpbacks, minkes, blue whales, and all such "rorqual" whales that use a practice called lunge-feeding.

With lunge-feeding, the whales gulp up krill and other prey along with voluminous amounts of water.