diff --git a/tests/putil/test_sparsearray.py b/tests/putil/test_sparsearray.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae6d5208b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/putil/test_sparsearray.py
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+from panda3d import core
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_set_bit_to():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for set_bit_to()."""
+
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit_to(5, True)
+    assert s.get_bit(5)
+
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.set_bit_to(5, False)
+    assert not s.get_bit(5)
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_clear():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for clear()."""
+
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.clear()
+    assert s.is_zero()
+    assert not s.is_inverse()
+    assert s.get_num_subranges() == 0
+    assert s.get_num_on_bits() == 0
+    assert s.get_num_bits() == 0
+
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range(5, 10)
+    s.clear()
+    assert s.is_zero()
+    assert not s.is_inverse()
+    assert s.get_num_subranges() == 0
+    assert s.get_num_on_bits() == 0
+    assert s.get_num_bits() == 0
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_clear_range():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for clear_range()."""
+
+    # test clear_range with single overlapping on-range
+    # (clear_range extends beyond highest on-bit)
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range(2, 3)
+    s.clear_range(3, 3)
+    assert s.get_bit(2)
+    assert not s.get_bit(3)
+
+    # same as above, using set_range_to
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range_to(True, 2, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(False, 3, 3)
+    assert s.get_bit(2)
+    assert not s.get_bit(3)
+
+    # test clear_range using off-range which overlaps two on-ranges
+    # (lowest off-bit in lowest on-range, highest off-bit in highest on-range)
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range(2, 3)
+    s.set_range(7, 3)
+    s.clear_range(3, 6)
+    assert s.get_bit(2)
+    assert not s.get_bit(3)
+    assert not s.get_bit(8)
+    assert s.get_bit(9)
+
+    # same as above, using set_range_to
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range_to(True, 2, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(True, 7, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(False, 3, 6)
+    assert s.get_bit(2)
+    assert not s.get_bit(3)
+    assert not s.get_bit(8)
+    assert s.get_bit(9)
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_set_range():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for set_range()."""
+
+    # test set_range with single overlapping off-range
+    # (set_range extends beyond highest off-bit)
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.clear_range(2, 3)
+    s.set_range(3, 3)
+    assert not s.get_bit(2)
+    assert s.get_bit(3)
+
+    # same as above, using set_range_to
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.set_range_to(False, 2, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(True, 3, 3)
+    assert not s.get_bit(2)
+    assert s.get_bit(3)
+
+    # test set_range using on-range which overlaps two off-ranges
+    # (lowest on-bit in lowest off-range, highest on-bit in highest off-range)
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.clear_range(2, 3)
+    s.clear_range(7, 3)
+    s.set_range(3, 6)
+    assert not s.get_bit(2)
+    assert s.get_bit(3)
+    assert s.get_bit(8)
+    assert not s.get_bit(9)
+
+    # same as above, using set_range_to
+    s = core.SparseArray.all_on()
+    s.set_range_to(False, 2, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(False, 7, 3)
+    s.set_range_to(True, 3, 6)
+    assert not s.get_bit(2)
+    assert s.get_bit(3)
+    assert s.get_bit(8)
+    assert not s.get_bit(9)
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_bits_in_common():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for has_bits_in_common()."""
+
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    t = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range(2, 4)
+    t.set_range(5, 4)
+    assert s.has_bits_in_common(t)
+
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    t = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_range(2, 4)
+    t.set_range(6, 4)
+    assert not s.has_bits_in_common(t)
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_operations():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for various operations."""
+
+    # test bitshift to left
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit(2)
+    t = s << 2
+    assert t.get_bit(4)
+    assert not t.get_bit(2)
+
+    # test bitshift to right
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit(4)
+    t = s >> 2
+    assert t.get_bit(2)
+    assert not t.get_bit(4)
+
+    # test bitwise AND
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    t = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit(2)
+    s.set_bit(3)
+    t.set_bit(1)
+    t.set_bit(3)
+    u = s & t
+    assert not u.get_bit(0)
+    assert not u.get_bit(1)
+    assert not u.get_bit(2)
+    assert u.get_bit(3)
+
+    # test bitwise OR
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    t = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit(2)
+    s.set_bit(3)
+    t.set_bit(1)
+    t.set_bit(3)
+    u = s | t
+    assert not u.get_bit(0)
+    assert u.get_bit(1)
+    assert u.get_bit(2)
+    assert u.get_bit(3)
+
+    # test bitwise XOR
+    s = core.SparseArray()
+    t = core.SparseArray()
+    s.set_bit(2)
+    s.set_bit(3)
+    t.set_bit(1)
+    t.set_bit(3)
+    u = s ^ t
+    assert not u.get_bit(0)
+    assert u.get_bit(1)
+    assert u.get_bit(2)
+    assert not u.get_bit(3)
+
+
+def test_sparse_array_augm_assignment():
+    """Tests SparseArray behavior for augmented assignments."""
+
+    # test in-place bitshift to left
+    s = t = core.SparseArray()
+    t <<= 2
+    assert s is t
+
+    # test in-place bitshift to right
+    s = t = core.SparseArray()
+    t >>= 2
+    assert s is t
+
+    # test in-place bitwise AND
+    s = t = core.SparseArray()
+    u = core.SparseArray()
+    t &= u
+    assert s is t
+
+    # test in-place bitwise OR
+    s = t = core.SparseArray()
+    u = core.SparseArray()
+    t |= u
+    assert s is t
+
+    # test in-place bitwise XOR
+    s = t = core.SparseArray()
+    u = core.SparseArray()
+    t ^= u
+    assert s is t