def search_records(self, rq={}, limit=100, offset=0, sort=None,
                       fields=None, fields_exclude=FIELDS_EXCLUDE_DEFAULT):
        """
            rq  Search Query in iDigBio Query Format, using Record Query Fields
            sort    field to sort on, pick from Record Query Fields
            fields  a list of fields to return, specified using the fieldName parameter from Fields with type records
            fields_exclude  a list of fields to exclude, specified using the fieldName parameter from Fields with type records
            limit   max results
            offset  skip results

            Returns idigbio record format (legacy api), plus additional top level keys with parsed index terms. Returns None on error.
        """
        if fields is not None and fields_exclude is FIELDS_EXCLUDE_DEFAULT:
            fields_exclude = None

        return self._api_post("/v2/search/records",
                              rq=rq, limit=limit, offset=offset, sort=sort,
                              fields=fields, fields_exclude=fields_exclude)