Crocs, snakes found in Qld highway check

Why were the two men speeding? Because they were trying to get the reptiles down the road.

A pair of police officers made an unlikely discovery on Monday night when they pulled over a speeding wagon near the appropriately named Deception Bay, north of Brisbane.

Two men travelling in the car had some extra passengers - two saltwater crocodiles, about 45cm long, stowed away in a bucket and a coastal python and large black-headed python in a bag.

The NSW men, 23 and 21, have been charged taking and keeping protected animals.

They're scheduled to front Redcliffe Magistrates Court on March 23.

Meanwhile, their reptilian horde has found a temporary - and more comfortable - home at Australia Zoo.