A large monitor lizard sauntered into a family's living room and scared residents in Malaysia.

The 6ft reptile slowly crawled through the open door of the kitchen at the back of the house and made its way across the room unnoticed in Kuala Lumpur on August 29.

CCTV footage shows the animal passing through the path between a sleeping resident and his relative on the sofa, who was busy scrolling on his phone.

It moved towards the dining table where a grandmother was sitting, but the three residents only noticed it when one of them stood up and heard it scrambling.

One of the residents Supian Kasim said: ‘It was so big I thought it was a crocodile. I always check around the house after that.'

The lizard fled to the front door and left the property. No one was hurt or damaged.

Conservationists have found that population of monitor lizards in Malaysia is relatively stable, but it varies depending on the species and habitat.

Monitor lizards, particularly the water monitor lizard like the creature seen in the video, are widespread across the country.

They are found in mangroves, rivers, lakes, forests, and even urban areas.