Smallish Mammillaria with awesome spines from southern Mexico. Described in 1979. Stems are solitary, then branch above the base, with conical tubercles tipped by a radiating spray of spines: 0-1 (rarely 2-4) dark centrals and 15-30 bright white radials which run parallel to the body of the plant. Flowers are pink, red or magenta and relatively small. Fruit is bright red.

This plant is found in Oaxaca and Puebla. Two subspecies are recognized: Mammillaria (Mammillaria huitzilopochtli subsp. huitzilopochtli) (0-1 central, up to 30 radials, Oaxaca and Puebla) and Mammillaria (Mammillaria huitzilopochtli subsp. niduliformis) (narrower stems, 2-4 centrals, up to 22 radials, Oaxaca).

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