Solitary barrel cactus from the Chihuahuan Desert (mainly) with long, hooked central spines. Stems reach up to about 1 foot wide and 2 feet tall. 12-17 ribs; 4-8 curved to hooked, sometimes twisted central spines; 8-20 radial spines. Flowers are yellow, sometimes with red throats, up to about 3 inches wide.

Two subspecies can be distinguished based on size, ribs, spines, flowers, and geographic origin. The type Ferocactus (Ferocactus hamatacanthus subsp. hamatacanthus) reaches 2 feet tall and has rounded, distinctly tubercular ribs, 4-8 central spines, and red-throated flowers. Mexican Fruit Cactus (Ferocactus hamatacanthus subsp. sinuatus) gets half as tall and has sharp ribs, 4 central spines, and completely yellow flowers. The type subspecies is found in NM, TX, and much of northern Mexico. Subspecies sinuatus is found only in the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) plain in SE Texas and adjacent parts of Mexico.

This plant is used to harvest cabuches (buds) for human consumption.

This species is distinct from the red-spined Ferocactus haematacanthus (one letter difference) from southern Mexico, whose name means "blood red spine" as opposed to "hooked spine". This other species was recently moved to Bisnaga.

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