All IP addresses return with ::ffff: before them, why?

When I get the address of a connection with connectionToClient/Server.address or NetworkServer.connections it gives me the correct ip but with ::ffff: before it. In order to ping the addresses I need to remove the ::ffff: bit, which is fine but a bit annoying. I was wondering why is this ::ffff: bit here? And is it possible for NetworkServer.connections[0/1/2...].address to return the ip without this?

 for(int i = 0; i<NetworkServer.connections.Count; i++){
     string iterAddress;
     if(NetworkServer.connections[i] != null)
         iterAddress = NetworkServer.connections[i].address;

iterAddress always ends up being "::ffff:192.168.0.1" when localhost, "::ffff:80.3.xxx.xxx" with a friends computer connecting etc.

Thanks, Toby.