Template:POTD/2012-08-01
Five views of the shell of a sacred chank (Turbinella pyrum), a species of sea snail (also known as a conch) found in the Indian Ocean. The name "chank" is derived from the Sanskrit name shankha. The shell is of religious importance in Hinduism and Buddhism, where it is recognized as one of the eight auspicious symbols.Photo: H. Zell