This document provides an overview of animal diversity and evolution. It describes key characteristics of animals including being multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic. It outlines the major kingdoms and describes the evolution of developmental processes like blastula formation and gastrulation, implying these processes evolved early in animal history. It details the major eras of animal evolution from the Neoproterozoic to present. It also describes body plans involving symmetry, tissues derived from germ layers, and presence or absence of coeloms.