This document provides an overview of the classification of animals in the kingdom Animalia. It discusses 12 key characteristics used to classify animals, including their body plan, symmetry, germ layers, coelom, segmentation, and digestive/circulatory systems. Major animal phyla are also introduced, such as porifera, cnidaria, ctenophora, platyhelminthes, aschelminthes, and annelida. Examples are given for important classes within each phylum.