As someone interested in lizards (trained in herpetology in Arizona and California)
and the Tesla Model X, your thread has made my day. Thank you.
I am not an expert on Florida lizards, but yes they look like anoles, or close relatives, which I believe are insectivorous as adults. (I remember having some, purchased from a circus and pet stores, as a kid. Fed on meal worms.) Common iguanas, the big ones that parts of Florida now have, are herbivores as adults and would like your son's salad--but not the vinegary dressing. But these are not baby iguanas, which also eat insects anyway, I believe.
The ones pictured above are common (green?) anoles (like from the Carolinas). Could these be brown anoles? Looks like Florida has a bunch of anolis species either native or introduced by Man over time from the Caribbean islands and possibly even Central and South America. So maybe they are a related Anolis species, and not native to Florida? Any Florida reptile experts out there with a Model X? Just be glad it wasn't an alligator, diamondback rattlesnake, or Burmese python. Ha, ha.
Anyway, as to their presence in the car--big mystery. My best guesses:
- Lizards were already in the car (from openings in trunk area or wherever)?
- Your son had already captured them for school or whatever (and was being secretive about it)?
- Other kids put the lizards in your sons stuff as a prank, and they got out?
It is hard to separate lizard from boys (and some girls), anywhere in the world.
If the lizards were actually eating the lettuce, interesting. Could they be attracted to small unseen bugs (gnats?) on the lettuce? Or maybe just to the color of the leaves?
Did you have dog(/lizard) mode on? (Ha, ha.) If not, maybe they got over-heated and the lettuce was moist and cool? As I recall, they like warmth, but also moisture/humidity, The warming lettuce might have been the perfect environment. For some types of field research we used to catch lizards and take body temperatures (with anal thermometers in the cloaca. How rude!). This is crucial. Did you happen to acquire their temperatures and that of the inside of the car? (Just kidding.)
If they are the common American anole, these (cute) lizards (which used to be incorrectly called American/Carolina chameleons) can be either predominantly green or brown and can change color, correct? (Though not as comprehensively and quickly as true old-world chameleons.) Maybe they would eventually have changed to green on the lettuce? (But if I remember correctly, color had more to do with emotional state.)
Blah, blah. (Aging herp nerd.) Sorry.
