Johann August Ephraim Goeze (German: [joˈhan ˈʔaʊɡʊst ˈʔeːfʁa.ɪm ˈɡœtsə]; 28 May 1731 – 27 June 1793) was a German zoologist, born in Aschersleben.

He was the son of Johann Heinrich and Catherine Margarete (née Kirchhoff).

He did much work with aquatic invertebrates, particularly insects and worms.

In 1784, Goeze perceived the similarities between the heads of tapeworms found in the human intestinal tract and the invaginated heads of Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs.

[1] In 1773, he was the first to describe tardigrades, naming them Kleiner Wasserbär, meaning 'little water-bear'.