[2] The freshwater fish primarily inhabits rivers of the Araxes basin in Asia, and has been found so far in at least Armenia, Iran[3] and Turkey.

[4] Capoeta kaput has a distinct dorsal body contour with no marked discontinuity between head and predorsal profile.

The rostral cap is well-developed, partly overlapping the upper lip, with only its maxillary barbel present.

The last unbranched ray is thick and ossified, serrated in basal two-thirds, with a soft and flexible distal third.

[5] The average temperature of the river basin is 9 °C (48 °F), and can vary from −4 to 22 °C (25 to 72 °F) throughout the year with hot summers and cold winters.

[citation needed] Fish of the genus Capoeta are morphologically distinct because they have "inferior mouth[s] with the horny edge to the lower jaw" and a "short dorsal fin with seven to nine branched rays.

It has nine dorsal branched rays, as compared to eight, and its body is a darker, more bluish color than other species of Capoeta.

It has 46-48 vertebrae, more than most others in its genus, and its head is "deep" and "wide" with the "horny cutting edge on lower jaw variably arched.