The first incisors of Santiagorothia were enlarged and positioned straight in the alveoli, somewhat similar to human dentition.

[1] Santiagorothia was first described in 2000, based on fossils found in Chile, near the Tinguiririca River, and in Argentina in deposits of the Sarmiento Formation, dating to the Early Oligocene.

Santiagorothia was an archaic interatheriid, less specialized than the later Cochilius, Miocochilius, Protypotherium and Interatherium.

Santiagorothia was a terrestrial herbivore, which fed on low vegetation in open areas, and was probably quite fast and agile.

The genus is named for Santiago Roth, "in honor of his contributions to South American paleontology".