The ornate nile monitor is a large monitor lizard that can reach about 6 to 7 feet in length, including the tail. It is native to West and Middle Africa.
The Alameda Police Department reported receiving a call of a Komodo dragon inside of a vacant house over the weekend. When officers arrived with animal control, they did discover a large lizard, but it wasn’t a Komodo dragon, but rather a young ornate Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus ornatus).
“Due to the reptile’s size and aggression, our team devised a plan to safely secure the animal. The “Komodo dragon” was later identified as a young nile monitor. This species can grow up to 7 feet in length. They have powerful bites, strong claws, and forceful tails that can cause injuries. For these reasons, ornate Nile monitors are not suitable for beginner reptile keepers and are never appropriate pets for children,”
The Alameda Police Department wrote on its Facebook page.
The ornate nile monitor is a large monitor lizard that can reach about 6 to 7 feet in length, including the tail. It is native to West and Middle Africa. Originally the ornate Nile monitor was classified as a subspecies of the nile monitor, but in 1997, a taxonomic review of the species based on color and morphology determined the ornate monitor as distinctive from the Nile monitor and a separate species altogether.
After securing the lizard, the department sent the monitor to the East Bay Vivarium, where it will be cared for. So, if you know of anyone who lost their lizard, please contact the Alameda Police Department at 510/337-8340 or via email at copps@alamedaca.gov.
