ABSTRACT Here we describe the first occurrence of the stem turtle Naomichelys from the Late Cretaceous of eastern North America. The specimen (MSC 41038) was collected as float from locality AMg-1 in Montgomery County, Alabama, USA. Although this locality consists of exposures of both the upper Santonian Tombigbee Sand Member of the Eutaw Formation and Mooreville Chalk, it is likely that the specimen was derived from the latter unit, which is known to possess both nearshore and terrestrial components. The specimen consists of a single incomplete peripheral and is referred to Naomichelys based on its Santonian age and the presence of numerous cylindrical tubercles covering the surface of the element that never coalesce and are easily dislodged. The presence of Naomichelys in the Gulf Coastal Plain greatly expands the geographical range of helochelydrids in North America. This occurrence indicates that helochelydrid turtles were likely a well-established component of the Appalachian terrestrial fauna and reinforces the emerging pattern of faunal similarities between Laramidia and Appalachia seen in Late Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs. The recovery of helochelydrid remains from the Santonian of Alabama therefore represents an important contribution to our understanding of the terrestrial palaeoecology of Appalachia.