With warming oceans, the physiological functions of organisms may be altered due to thermal stress. The sea urchins Eucidaris tribuloides and Echinometra lucunter are both ecosystem engineers. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the feeding rates and behaviors of E. tribuloides and E. lucunter at 26°C, 29°C, 32°C and 35°C. Feeding rates for E. lucunter or E. tribuloides did not differ (p=0.301) at different temperatures. Similarly, righting responses for individuals placed on their aboral surface did not differ (p=0.299) at different temperatures. Temperature affected the number of E. tribuloides able to right themselves at higher temperatures, starting at 32°C (p= 0.012), but not of E. lucunter (p=0.598). We conducted field studies in Honduras to determine natural environments inhabited by E. tribuloides and the congener Echinometra viridis. Eucidaris tribuloides showed a distinct association with rubble and an environmental temperature of 26°C (p=0.001). Echinometra viridis was found associated with rubble, Millepora complanata, Montastraea annularis, and Agaricia tenuifolia at temperatures ranging from 26°C to 29°C. Eucidaris tribuloides appears to be stenothermal in the lab and field whereas E. luncunter and E. viridis appear to be eurythermal in the lab and field, respectively. These results suggest responses by sea urchin communities to thermal stress will be complex because each species of sea urchin will be impacted by thermal stress differently. As a result, both community structure of and ecosystem services by sea urchins may shift dramatically with climate change.