Predator in the shallow infralittoral (in pools near the low water mark during spring tides – Clark in Jeffreys) « to as deep as forty fathoms » in Forbes & Hanley. Original taxon: Bulla catena. A synonym is catenata Thorpe. Specimen collected at 3-6m deep, offshore gardens made of small Posidonia patches in rough sand pockets on granitic substract, SW. end of Ghjunchitu Bay, Isola Rossa, NW. Corsica. 3,4mm.

The species bears substantially the same chain-like sculpture than Philine intricata Monterosato, but the shape is clearly different: more oval in catena, more squarish in intricata, which, in addition, has a much narrower spire bordered with a ridge (Van der Linden, 1994).

The variant “zona” Jeffreys, is described as rather « more depressed, with a belt of clear white in the middle, taking in from eight to ten of the chain-like rows. » As one can notice on the specimen pictured above, the « clear white belt in the middle » is not always situated at the same place, can take up less width than the 8-10 chain-like ribs, and is able to vary along the time. Shallow water grit, Marina di Davia, Corbara, south of Isola Rossa. 2,75mm.

« Body on the upper part yellowish-white ; the shield or anterior portion, and the lateral lobes caused by the reflexion of the foot on the back, are sprinkled with close-set very minute reddish-brown points ; the posterior part of the body is divided into one or two digitations. (Clark) » – J. G. Jeffreys: British conchology vol. IV, London 1867, p.449.