Snake surprise in smuggled in shoe box

A box marked '2 pair shoes' has contained a scaly surprise for border and biosecurity officers.

Officers in Melbourne X-rayed a parcel from northern Europe on March 14, discovering live reptiles and arachnids inside.

They included six venomous vipers and two of what is believed to be the world's third-largest tarantula.

The Agriculture Department's deputy secretary Lyn O'Connell says it appeared to be a clear attempt to get around the rules which are in place to protect Australians.

"No spider is a match for our biosecurity web, we get our tails up when there are scorpions in the mail and if you try send exotic snakes -- beware if we find intentional non-compliance, we bite back with the full force of the law," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

The package is being investigated.

WHAT WAS IN THE PARCEL:

* three ball pythons, also known as royal pythons

* two hognose snakes

* six vipers

* two Colombian giant tarantulas

* five Mexican redknee tarantulas

* two Brazilian salmon pink tarantulas-- considered to be the third-largest tarantula in the world

* four Asian forest scorpions