Geckos discovered hidden inside books

Border force officers have discovered geckos, bearded dragons and thorny devils hidden in books bound for Slovakia.

The 15 native lizards were found when officers at the Perth International Mail centre noticed inconsistencies in X-rays.

"Native Australian lizards such as these are highly sought after overseas and can be sold for a tidy profit by people who have little regard for their welfare," WA Regional Commander Rod O'Donnell said in a statement on Friday.