The Redbreast Tilapia (Tilapia rendalli, also classified as Coptodon rendalli), known locally as තිලාපියා (Tilapia), is an introduced freshwater cichlid in Sri Lanka belonging to the family Cichlidae. Native to central and southern Africa, it was introduced to Sri Lankan freshwater ecosystems—particularly large reservoirs, tanks, and slow-flowing rivers—primarily to support inland fisheries and control unwanted aquatic vegetation. It features a compressed, deep body with a spiny dorsal fin and is easily identified by its distinctively bright red to pink chest and throat region, paired with an olive-green body and yellow-tinged fins. Like its close relatives, it is a substrate-nesting species where both parents excavate shallow pits in sandy or muddy bottoms to guard their eggs and young. Exceptionally resilient to varying water conditions, this herbivorous and omnivorous species feeds heavily on aquatic plants, algae, and benthic fauna, frequently establishing strong populations that compete with indigenous fish for resources.