Fishhook cactus is a common name for any hook-spined

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of the

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

Mammillaria ''Mammillaria'' is one of the largest genera in the cactus family (Cactaceae), with currently 200 known species and varieties recognized. Most of the mammillaria are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest United States, the Caribbean ...

'', ''

Echinomastus ''Echinomastus'' (meaning "spiny breast") is a genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus ...

'' or ''

Sclerocactus ''Sclerocactus'' ("hard cactus", from Greek; refers to the hard, dry fruit) is a genus of cacti. It comprises about 15 species, the exact number depending on the authority. These species are very xerophytic. They are sometimes called 'fishhook ...

''. They are small

cacti A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek ...

, usually growing up to 6-7 inches (20 cm) high, and are shaped similar to a

barrel cactus Barrel cacti are various members of the two genera ''Echinocactus'' and ''Ferocactus'', endemic to the deserts of Southwestern North America southward to north central Mexico. Some of the largest specimens are found in the Sonoran Desert in So ...

. They are not to be confused with the fishhook barrel cactus (''Ferocactus wislizenii'') of the Sonoran and

Chihuahuan Desert The Chihuahuan Desert ( es, Desierto de Chihuahua, ) is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It occupies much of far West Texas, the middle to lower Rio Grande Valley and the lower P ...

s. The Fishhook cactus is a large category of around 150 species. Good places to see "fishhook" ''Mammillaria'' are the

Sonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert ( es, Desierto de Sonora) is a desert in North America and ecoregion that covers the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of the southwestern United States (in Arizona ...

on the U.S. - Mexico border, and the

Mesa Verde National Park Mesa Verde National Park is an American national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Montezuma County, Colorado. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. Established ...

. Often found growing in desert and rocky locations.

Notable species

The genus ''Mammillaria'' also contains "pincushion" and other cacti. * '' Mammillaria barbata'' – green fishhook cactus * ''

Mammillaria dioica ''Mammillaria dioica'', also called the strawberry cactus, California fishhook cactus, strawberry pincushion or fishhook cactus, is a cactus species of the genus ''Mammillaria''. Its common name in Spanish is ''biznaga llavina''. Distribution Th ...

'' – California fishhook cactus,

strawberry cactus ''Mammillaria dioica'', also called the strawberry cactus, California fishhook cactus, strawberry pincushion or fishhook cactus, is a cactus species of the genus ''Mammillaria''. Its common name in Spanish is ''biznaga llavina''. Distribution Th ...

* ''

Mammillaria grahamii ''Mammillaria grahamii'' is a species of cactus also known by the name Graham's nipple cactus. In the United States, this plant can be found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a s ...

'' –

Arizona fishhook cactus ''Cochemiea grahamii'' is a species of cactus also known by the names Arizona fishhook cactus and Graham's nipple cactus. In the United States, this plant can be found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ' ...

** ''Mammillaria grahamii'' var. ''oliviae'' – pitahayita * ''

Mammillaria tetrancistra ''Cochemiea tetrancistra'' is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of dese ...

'' –

common fishhook cactus ''Cochemiea tetrancistra'' is a species of fishhook cactus known by the common name common fishhook cactus. It is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of dese ...

* ''

Mammillaria thornberi ''Cochemiea thornberi'' is a species of cactus known by the common names Thornber's fishhook cactus and Thornber's nipple cactus. It is native to Arizona in the United States and Sonora in Mexico.Thornber's fishhook cactus ''Cochemiea thornberi'' is a species of cactus known by the common names Thornber's fishhook cactus and Thornber's nipple cactus. It is native to Arizona in the United States and Sonora in Mexico.Cacti of Mexico Cacti of the United States North American desert flora Flora of the Sonoran Deserts {{Cactus-stub