It is found in various habitats, including rocky crevices and open areas, at altitudes between 500 and 2,400 meters, depending on the subspecies.

The botanist David Hunt views Mammillaria albilanata as encompassing M. reppenhagenii, M. tegelbergiana, M. ignota, but accepts these as subspecies of M.

The central spines are typically two in number, about 2 mm long, starting out white but later developing yellow-brown or rusty tips.

[1] Recent findings regarding Mammillaria albilanata reveal significant variation in both the shape and spination of the plants.

These plants are densely covered in wool, particularly around the flowering region, and feature short central spines that are barely noticeable beyond the woolly surface.

These clustered plants typically have smaller stems, measuring 3 to 5 cm in both height and width, and are less densely covered in wool.

Others vary in their central spines, which in some cases are long, pale yellow, and resemble those of M. dixanthocentron, leading to potential confusion.

The plant also has 2 to 4 central spines, which are 2 to 3 mm long, slender, straight, and awl-shaped, with a white to cream color and brown tips.

Small flowers emerge from the woolly crown, measuring 7 mm in length and displaying a deep carmine hue.

The central spines, numbering 1 to 4, are needle-like and glassy white with brown tips, ranging in length from 4 to 7 mm.

Both the areoles (where the spines grow) and the spaces between them are covered with short, white wool that persists over time.

The plant has 19 to 26 radial spines, most often around 22 or 23, which are white and measure 2 to 3 mm long, with the ones on the sides being slightly longer.

These spines start out pinkish or reddish-brown with darker tips, gradually becoming lighter near the base as they age.

It primarily grows in the approximately 100 kilometers long mountainous area between the cities of Iguala and Chilpancingo, thriving in varied terrains, including the Zopilote Canyon's hilly regions rich in humus.

tegelbergiana is native to Chiapas, found at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,200 m. It thrives in open areas and limestone crevices, particularly along Highway 190 near Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, and in areas such as the Sierra Ecatepec near Teopisca and San Cristóbal de las Casas.