Tropical traveler: Tiny web burrfish found in the surf in Kill Devil Hills

Published 3:15 pm Wednesday, August 17, 2022

: Courtesy Carrie Knight

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Vacationer Colton Knight, 12, from Lexington, Va., found and later released this tiny web burrfish in the surf around milepost 8 in Kill Devil Hills on Thursday, August 11.

This type of spiny puffer typically lives in warm tropical waters from southeast Florida and the Bahamas to Venezuela. It can grow to 10 inches long.

Web burrfish are usually found on open seagrass flats. It’s possible this little guy caught a ride in some sea grass in the Gulf Stream before finding its way to shore.

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Colton’s mom photographed and filmed the creature before it was let free in the sea.

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