| Ernst Vanhöffen | |
| Birth Date: | 15 October 1858 |
| Birth Place: | Wehlau, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Nationality: | German |
| Death Place: | Legitten, Germany (now Russia) |
| Fields: | Zoology |
| Workplaces: | University of Kiel |
| Alma Mater: | Humboldt University of Berlin University of Königsberg |
Ernst Vanhöffen (15 November 1858, in Wehlau – 14 June 1918) was a German zoologist.
He studied geology, botany and zoology at the universities of Berlin and Königsberg, graduating in 1888 with the thesis Untersuchungen über semaeostome und rhizostome Medusen. In 1889–90 he conducted research of jellyfish at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples.
In 1892–93 he participated in a Gesellschaft für Erdkunde zu Berlin-sponsored expedition to West Greenland under the leadership of Erich von Drygalski (1865–1949). Afterwards, he worked for a few years at the Institute of Zoology in Kiel. In 1898–99 he took part in the Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition aboard the steamship "Valdivia". From an abundant yield of deep-sea marine fauna collected on the expedition, Vanhöffen was tasked with processing medusa species.
After his return to Germany, he served as a lecturer at the University of Kiel, attaining the title of professor in March 1901. From August 1901 to November 1903 he was a member of the Deutschen Südpolar-Expedition aboard the research vessel "Gauss". Led by Erich von Drygalski, the expedition endured periods of hardship due to the "Gauss" being trapped in Antarctic ice for several months.[1] Vanhoffen Bluff (Coordinates: 53°0′S 73°21′E) was named in his honor.