Strombus urceus Linné, 1758 is a gastropod species that is one of the most variable and well documented through the centuries. However, we found the present identity of Strombus urceus misleading. Abbott (1960) designated the type locality, and confirmed type specimen, based on the microfiche of the Uppsala University, Museum of Evolution Zoology Section Collection, which formed the basic reference set for the Museum S:æ R:æ M:tis Luovicæ Ulricæ (1764), Linné’s primary set of organisms from which he ordered the species in the Systema Naturae. This review resolves the taxonomic identity of Strombus urceus Linné, 1758 (= Canarium urceus (Linné, 1758)) through conforming the type and explicitly defining a range for that phenotype, and this then providesthebasisforfutureworkthatwilldeal withthegreaterStrombusurceus Linné,1758diverse phenotypiccomplexanditscurrentlyassignedregionalformsandvarietiesbythepresentauthors.