Huge lizard found in vacated Alameda home

A huge pet lizard was found left behind in a recently vacated home, Alameda police said.

The initial call said the animal was a Komodo dragon — the world’s largest reptile. It turned out to be an ornate monitor, the police report said.

The species can grow to about 7 feet long (as opposed to 10 feet for the Komodo). The Alameda lizard is believed to be juvenile, and photos indicate it is about 2 feet from snout to base of tail, plus 3 more feet of tail.

The lizard was secured and taken to the East Bay Vivarium, a Berkeley reptile store, the police said.