Gnathophausia zoea is a species of lophogastrid crustacean. It is widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic Circle to the Equator; in the Pacific Ocean, it is more restricted to tropical areas. The adults may reach 40–50 millimetres (1.6–2.0 in) long, excluding the rostrum, or around 70 mm (2.8 in) including the rostrum.

This Species has also been knows as: Gnathophausia cristata Illig, 1906 (synonym); Gnathophausia sarsii Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891 (synonym) and Gnathophausia willemoesii G.O. Sars, 1883 (synonym).