How is the whale shark's throat size often compared relative to its large mouth intake?

Compared in size to a U.S. quarter or a baseball

A striking physical contradiction exists in the anatomy of the whale shark's feeding mechanism: while its mouth can measure over 1.5 meters across, the exit route for the bulk fluid and processed material—the throat—is surprisingly restrictive. Researchers have noted that the throat aperture is very narrow, often being likened in size to a U.S. quarter or, alternatively, a baseball. This restriction means that even though the shark takes in enormous volumes of water, the passage available for solid material is quite limited. Consequently, this anatomical constraint necessitates that the shark bulk processes small prey items, echoing the feeding strategy utilized by baleen whales, rather than targeting singular, large meals.