* Evolution is complex: It's a long and branching process, with many lineages evolving simultaneously and interacting.
* Our knowledge is incomplete: We are still uncovering new fossils and information about animal evolution.
However, there are several diagrams that illustrate key aspects of animal evolution:
1. Phylogenetic Trees: These are branching diagrams that show the evolutionary relationships between species based on shared characteristics. They're often used to represent the relationships between major animal groups, like mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
* Example: [https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/new-tree-life-reveals-hidden-relationships-between-animals](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/new-tree-life-reveals-hidden-relationships-between-animals)
2. Evolutionary Timelines: These diagrams show the approximate time periods when different animal groups appeared and diversified. They often include key evolutionary events and major extinction events.
* Example: [https://www.livescience.com/28998-evolution-of-animals.html](https://www.livescience.com/28998-evolution-of-animals.html)
3. Cladograms: These diagrams focus on specific groups of animals and show their relationships based on shared derived characters (features that evolved in a common ancestor). They help to understand how specific groups evolved within a larger context.
* Example: [https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/tree-of-life/phylogeny/a/cladograms-and-phylogenetic-trees](https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/tree-of-life/phylogeny/a/cladograms-and-phylogenetic-trees)
It's important to remember that all these diagrams are simplified representations of a very complex process. They are constantly being updated as new information is discovered.
Instead of seeking a single "perfect" diagram, it's best to explore a variety of resources and understand the overall concept of common ancestry and evolutionary relationships.