Is that a reptile down your pants?

Security officers made a shock discovery at Newark Liberty International Airport passenger screening - a live turtle stuffed down a man's pants.

A US Transportation Security Administration officer operating a pre-flight body scanner detected a concealed item in the Pennsylvania man’s pants, US media reported.

When confronted, the traveller ‘pulled out a live turtle.’ The captive was a 12cm-long red-ear slider turtle wrapped in a towel.

Police took possession of the reptile and later handed it over to US Fish and Wildlife Service officers.

The man accused of attempting to smuggle the turtle missed his flight and was escorted out of the security checkpoint by police. Police did not say where the man was planning to travel but he was turned around.

It is unclear if he will face wildlife smuggling charges.

“We have seen travellers try to conceal knives and other weapons on their person, however I believe this is the first time we have come across someone who was concealing a live animal down the front of his pants,” said Thomas Carter, the TSA’s federal security director for New Jersey.

“As best as we could tell, the turtle was not harmed by the man’s actions.”