[3] C. echinus is found in the south and east portion of the Trans-Pecos to Del Rio, Chihuahua, Coahuila and sporadically in the northeast Trans-Pecos.

[2] The plant normally occurs in solitary groupings, but sometimes grows as a clump.

[4] It produces short-lived yellow flowers that last for a couple of hours between April and July.

[4][2] After flowering, it produces green fruits.

[2] Coryphantha echinus was first collected by Charles Wright in 1849 and was later described as Mammillaria echinus by George Engelmann.